Rocket Sled Based High Speed Rail Track Test Facilities

Abstract

The present study introduces and compares several high-speed track based ground test facilities available all over the world to simulate high-speed dynamic events for selected portions of flight trajectories. The scope of performing high speed flight-testing is addressed, which is followed by the requirements of these track based test facilities. The facilities deliver flight test articles under controlled conditions to achieve high velocity impact, acceleration, aerodynamic and other related testing for small and large test articles depending upon the requirements. Sled is designed in such a way so that it can carry the test articles like aircrafts, payloads, warheads, missiles and many other ballistic systems to achieve high velocities ranging from subsonic to hypersonic by accelerating these sleds using solid rocket motors over the rail track. Such facilities provide instrumentation for large set of trial data acquisition and offline analysis for both recovery and non- recovery (impact) trials, which makes such facilities important for test, research and evaluation purposes.

Here, the detailed description of test facilities, which are available in many countries such as India, United States (US), Japan, United Kingdom (UK), France, and others countries based on their technical characteristics is presented. Additionally, a brief history and introduction into basic rocket sled test facility aspects, essential technical characteristics and major features to support high speed testing at these facilities as an accurate testing technique based on quality of construction and engineering design are also covered in this paper. Compilation of available or under development facilities is done in one place which provides the information about facilities’ technological gaps. The paper concludes with an explanation of the role, major capabilities and limitations of these test facilities in the present global scenario.