Proceedings of 13th International Conference. Mechanika. 2008. Experimental Research of Mine imitator interaction with the soil A. Fedaravičius*, P. Griškevičius**, P. Šaulys ***, Z. Klimavičius****L. Patašienė***** *Kaunas University of Technology, Kęstučio str. 27, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania, Email: algimantas.fedaravicius@mf.ktu.lt ** Kaunas University of Technology, Kęstučio str. 27, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania, Email:paulius.griskevicius@ktu.lt ***Kaunas University of Technology, Kęstučio str. 27, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania, E-mail: povilas.saulys@stud.ktu.lt **** Kaunas University of Technology, Kęstučio str. 27, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania, E-mail: zigmas.klimavicius@ktu.lt ***** Kaunas University of Technology, Kęstučio str. 27, 44312 Kaunas, Lithuania, E-mail: laima.patasiene@ktu.lt Abstract This paper presents experimental interaction research of the detonator ’s cap of the mortar trainer’s mine imitator and nondeformable or deformable soil surfaces. For this purpose experimental research methodics was developed, test rig created, and performed the experimental testing during which the cap deformation was determined and interaction force dependences on cap deformations and stud deflections at different interaction angles were obtained. Field test results of the deformations of detonator’s cap of the mine imitator at different firing angles are presented. KEYWORDS: deformation of detonator’s cap, nondeformable and deformable surfaces, interaction force. 1. Introduction Armed Forces of developed countries are widely using trainers for the training of artillery specialists. Presently, specialists from the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Institute of Defense Technologies are dealing with the problem of firing 60 and 120 mm mortar trainers, which is extremely urgent to the Armed Forces of Lithuania. a b Fig.1 Composition of the mortar shoting trainer: 1-60mm mortar shoting trainer; b-120mm mortar shoting trainer ; 1- body ejecting devize; 2-mine imitator („warheld“); 3-muzzle The trainer consists of a body whose external surface, in principine, repeats the contour of a combarant mine, and its inside is installed with a barrel with an infixed charge (Fig.1). „Warheads“ are inserted into a murzle with the main powder charge, while the rear part of the muzzle has several small holes intended for the distribution of the gas flow of the main powder charge. To imitate an explosion, „the warhead“ is filled with smoke powder, and while falling into the ground it should explode in this way imitating the explosion of a mine. The trainer has four charges, consisting of a „warhead“ and muzzle with respective amounts of powder, which ensure firing ranges to the scale of 1/10 [1,2].