Effects of projectile parameters on shock response spectrum of a plate-type pyrotechnic shock simulator

Explosive separation represents one of the most severe mechanical environments encountered by missile/rocket structures during service. The associated high-amplitude broadband transient shocks may cause severe damage to onboard equipment, making accurate simulation of explosive separation environment is essential. The explosive separation environment is typically characterized by the shock response spectrum (SRS) measured using a pyrotechnic shock simulator. However, due to limited analytical methods, existing experimental studies still rely mainly on iterative parameter adjustment, leading to long test cycles, high costs, and insufficient quantitative understanding of simulator parameters. To address this gap, a high-precision finite element model was developed and validated based on the fundamental principles of the plate-type pyrotechnic shock simulator, and a systematic parametric study was conducted to comprehensively investigate the influence of projectile parameters on SRS characteristics. Building upon this foundation, an orthogonal experimental design (OED) was formulated with three factors—projectile impact velocity, impact angle, and projectile length—to conduct explicit dynamic simulations. This approach systematically investigated the influence of these parameters on the shock response spectrum (SRS). Results indicate that impact velocity exerts the most significant influence on the deformation of the response plate and fixture center, followed by projectile length, while impact angle has the least effect. Increasing impact velocity substantially amplifies response spectrum amplitude. A larger impact angle primarily attenuates high-frequency amplitude. Projectile length elongation causes upward curvature in the slope of low-frequency spectral lines. This study establishes and validates an explosion shock simulation apparatus while providing quantitative parameter relationships. The study explicitly identifies impact velocity as the dominant control parameter determining response spectrum amplitude, enabling efficient device calibration and rapid parameter adjustment. This methodology provides a reliable basis for accurately and economically replicating typical explosive shock environments in engineering applications.