From:	Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Re: How to handle missiles?
Date:	Mon, 4 Sep 1995 19:29:35 GMT

In message <950901200157_9017872@******.mail.aol.com> SHADOWRN@*****.nic.surfnet.nl
writes:
> Paul Adams wrote:
> The missile is limited by the strength of the material used to construct
> those control surfaces...<snip>... One of the major limiting factors
> in how many G's a missile can pull is how strong are its control surface
> servos and at what point will those control surfaces just snap off the thing.
> Duke

Whoops... completely forgot that point :(

But certainly the power of the actuators is a major factor. From submarine
design (same principles) one big problem with getting control authority at
high speed is the force required to push a control surface against the
airstream. The servo to handle that, and the power to drive the servo, are
an even bigger problem in smaller systems like torpedoes or missiles.

--
"When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better
or for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him." <R.A. Lafferty>

Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk