BALLISTIC VALIDATION TEST STATISTICS AND CONFIDENCE LEVELS

Ballistic validation testing typically involves firing multiple shots at a nominal velocity and ensuring the target stops every round with only partial penetrations, no completes. This testing is specified as a consequence of the binary nature of the test, and the need to meet a particular probability of penetration at a specified velocity with a certain confidence level. This legacy process has significant shortcomings owing to both the test procedures involved as well as the nature of the statistical interpretation of the results. This paper describes an alternative test and analysis procedure that produces the required level of performance and confidence information at a specified velocity, as well as the confidence over a wide range of other velocities and performance levels. In addition, this procedure eliminates many of the shortcomings associated with the legacy “no penetration” test protocol, and requires no more shots at the target.

Citation: J. Eridon, S. Mishler, “Ballistic Validation Test Statistics and Confidence Levels”, In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS), NDIA, Novi, MI, Aug. 11-13, 2020.