Impact dynamometer

An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force that contains high and low frequency components, comprising:

• an impact plate for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact;
• means for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said zone of impact;
• a plurality of posts, located distally from said zone of impact, for supporting said impact plate and for transmitting the impact force from said impact plate;
• means, in cooperation with at least one of said posts, for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said at least one post, wherein the acceleration measured at said zone of impact and at said at least one post is indicative of the high frequency components;
• means for measuring the impact force at said posts as a measure of the low frequency components;
• and
• means including a spring for supporting said posts and for elastically absorbing the impact force passed through said posts, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.

An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force of a torpedo that contains high and low frequency components, comprising:

• means for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact;
• a plurality of load paths for transmitting the impact force from said receiving means, each of said load paths being located distally from said zone of impact;
• means including at least two accelerometers, in cooperation with said receiving and said load paths, for defining the high frequency components of the impact force;
• means, in cooperation with said load paths, for defining the low frequency components of the impact force;
• and
• means including a metal spring, in cooperation with said load paths, for elastically absorbing the impact force, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.

A reusable dynamometer for determining a force history of an impact force that contains high and low frequency components comprising:

• an anvil in the form of a square plate having four corners for receiving the impact force;
• a square toroidal spring;
• four titanium posts connected between the said spring and the said anvil
• a first accelerometer mounted near the center of said anvil;
• a second accelerometer mounted near one of the corners of said anvil;
• a first strain gage mounted on a first one of said four posts;
• a second strain gage mounted on a second one of said four poses;
• whereby the first and second accelerometers provide outputs indicative of high frequency components of the impact force, the first and second strain gages provide outputs indicative of the low frequency components of the impact force and the said spring elastically absorbs a portion of said impact force to maintain structural integrity of said dynamometer, so that it can be reused.