Testing Composite Joints Under High Energy Hydrodynamic Ram Conditions

A test methodology and devices have been designed and proven capable of realistically and economically assessing skin-spar joint resistance to hydrodynamic ram pressures. One of the devices is known as the RamGun. The other is a high strain rate double cantilever beam (DCB) testing device. This paper describes progress made on the test methodology as well as a description of the RamGun and high strain rate DCB test machine. Limited test results are presented in the form of pressure plots, strain plots, and load-displacement plots.