BALLISTIC RANGE USE

Ballistic ranges can be used for a wide variety of applications. General categories have arranged themselves conveniently by the velocity capabilities of the three basic types of ballistic launchers. The following are some of the past and present uses for ballistic ranges.

Single Stage Gas Guns	Powder Guns	Two Stage Light Gas Guns
High strain rate testing of strong metals & composites Shock Equation of State (EOS) research shock loading studies compression shearing tension Road debris damage to automobiles Debris damage to missiles within silos Performance of sports equipment golf balls & clubs tennis balls & racket Baseballs & bats Ice/bird damage to aircraft and fast trains operating engines windows airframe components "Black Box" acceleration testing Protection of airframes from exploding jet engines Shockwaves for food processing	Weapon capability development Basic impact mechanics compact projectiles rod projectiles disc projectiles Performance of homogeneous armor Performance of advanced armor concepts hard point arrays spaced concepts confined hard material Material response to fast and intense loading Testing of armor protection equipment personnel armor non-leak fuel cells crew’s quarters High-stress EOS Studies High Explosive Detonation Physics	Meteoroid impact simulations Spaced armor concepts Thermodynamics of energetic material deformation Testing of space vehicle components against meteoric damage Ultra-high stress EOS studies Detonation characteristics of insensitive explosives Studies of "next generation" armor/anti-armor concepts at velocities > 2 km/sec