Test on Impact Location Estimation of Missile Warhead Fragments Using Acceleration Signals

This study investigates the feasibility of using acceleration signals to estimate the initial impact location of fragments generated by blast-fragmentation warheads. The experimental setup involved attaching three single-axis accelerometers to a steel plate, spaced 400 mm apart. A preliminary test used hammer strikes to verify the method, while the primary test employed active warheads. For each test, the time difference of arrival(TDOA) was analyzed using the acceleration signals. Trigonometric techniques were used to determine the impact locations, using the group velocity(Cg) calculated based on the wave propagation characteristics. Active warhead results showed that the tests achieved an average location estimation error of less than 10 % in both horizontal and vertical axes, validating the methodology despite the environmental complexities. This demonstrates the potential of using acceleration signals for fragment impact evaluation and highlights avenues for further research.