Multi-SPline Technique for the Extraction of Drag Coeffidents from Radar Data

In the preparation of firing tables, the determination of projectile drag coefficientsthrough firing test radar data reduction is very important. Many methods have been developed for this work but none of them appear to be satisfactory in one Way or another. Inthis paper a multi-spline model of drag coefficient (cd) curve is developed that can guaranteefirst derivative continuity of the cd curve and has good flexibility of fitting accurately to acd curve from subsonic up to supersonic range. Practical firing data reduction tests showboth fast convergence and accurate fitting results. Typical velocity fitting RMS errors are0.05-0.08 m/s.