Surface danger zone (SDZ) methodology study, probability based surface danger zones

Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey: US Army Armament Research, Development And Engineering Center. 1995. – 75 р.Surface danger zones (SDZs) are exclusion areas identified to protect personnel from weapons firing during training. Limited real estate at certain training sites and observation of inadequacies in current danger zones has forced the Army to investigate alternative methods of developing SDZs. One alternative is the development of probability based SDZs. This report addresses that alternative. A theoretical probability model was developed to evaluate the various parameters contributing to the SDZ definition. Specific emphasis was placed on the effects of ricochet because of its complexity and the significant affect ricochet has on the shape and size of the SDZ. Ricochet, in combination with aimer/system error, provides the necessary parameters to produce probability based SDZs for direct fire weapons. For indirect fire weapons, the additional affects of fragmentation are included. This study also discusses a computer simulation program developed to implement this model. The application of this program is exemplified by sample SDZs for .50-caliber machine gun and 9-mm pistol under a unique set of conditions.