An Air-cannon for Impact Resistant Test of Cladding

We manufactured an air-cannon, that is a missile-propulsion device, for the impact resistant test of cladding against windborne debris. The air-cannon consists of a compressed-air supply, pressure control and release valves, a barrel, a support frame and a speed-measuring system. Sets of photoelectric sensors mounted on the barrel are used for measuring the speed of the missile. The cannon is capable of propelling a missile at a specified speed and orientation towards a specified impact location. We calibrated the speed measuring system by a high-speed video camera. The fastest speed was 75m/s for a 3kg lumber. Tolerances for the measured impact speed were satisfied the specification of ISO16932.