Influence of crossing the transonic domain for precision ammunition

Although trajectography for small-calibre and long-range projectiles in particular, seem to becontrolled since a long time, it is not totally mastered within transonic or even subsonic range.Given the high cost of the precision ammunition and the increasingly complex practicalexecution of the firing process due to the required distances, the use of Computational FluidDynamics is clearly an added value. However, since numerical simulations have very littlevalue without a solid experimental basis, this study aim to establish the pillars for numericalmodelling of these projectiles in the transonic domain. By means of studies carried out in thepast and relatively new flow visualization techniques (Schlieren + Background OrientedSchlieren), the precise quantification of the drag as well as the various shocks propagating inthe transonic domain were determined, with good agreement between all techniques.