Sabot-Background

Sabot-Background

A sabot is a device used to carry the sub-caliber projectile, a projectile that is smaller in diameter than the gun tube it is being shot from, and to form a gas seal between the specimen or payload being fired and the barrel of the firing device. This seal directs all of the energy from the ignition of the propellant into the specimen being launched. For instance, consider having a muzzle that has an inner diameter of a half an inch and the projectile that will be fired is a quarter of an inch. By simply dropping the projectile into the muzzle and igniting the charge, energy will be lost since the projectile is allowed to travel transversely in the barrel of the gun while it moves axial down the length of it. Using a sabot maximizes the propellant energy used to accelerate the sabot/projectile package and improves the repeatability of the velocity from experiment-to-experiment.

Many different types of sabots can be used depending on their application. The first thing that must be considered is the projectile being fired. These can range from rockets to penetrators, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for their design. The way the object is held is only part of the design. The way the sabot separates from the projectile is the other large aspect of the design. Many different types of separation methods can be used in order to achieve a stand alone projectile. Similar design concepts were used in designing the sabot for the Dynamic Tensile Test.

Types of Sabots