scope:

INTRODUCTION

Significant vibrations in aeroplane structure and equipment can arise from the operation of guns mounted either onboard the carriage aeroplane or in external pods. Whilst the duration of these vibrations is relatively short in some cases the amplitudes can be several orders of magnitude greater than those arising during normal flight. Moreover, the characteristics of the responses, for some equipment and structure, may be significantly different to those occurring during normal flight conditions, and may induce different equipment failure modes.

This leaflet details advice and guidance on the vibration effects of aeroplane gunfire on equipment and structure. This information is given under the following headings

Sources of Excitation. This section discusses the characteristics of the excitations arising due to gunfire. 

Response Severity. Methods of estimating the severity of structural and equipment response due to the effects of gunfire are addressed.

Gunfire Simulation. Suitable methods for simulating the gunfire environment are discussed.

Gunfire Structural Evaluation. Guidance is given on a method to evaluate the structural effects of gun blast.

This leaflet should be read in conjunction with Leaflet SOliS, which presents a procedure for the computation of the pressure field arising from gunfire.