On the issue of hydrodynamic braking efficiency while high-speed testing on a rocket-rail track

At present, a promising direction in the development of aviation and armament is the creation of highspeed aircraft both in Russia and abroad. The increase in speed characteristics of newly developed specimens imposes new requirements on test bench equipment, including rocket-rail tracks. The requirements are growing for both acceleration and braking means, which ensure the tested materiel safety. The proposed work deals with a hydrodynamic braking method used in high-speed dynamic tests on the rocket-rail track at the Scientific Test Range of Aviation Systems named after L. K. Safronov. The description of the braking devices is given, the dependencies determining the calculated values of the braking force developed by the braking devices are presented. The braking intensity control methods are described, which increase the efficiency and safety of braking as well as expand the permissible speed range of the hydrodynamic braking device application. The method of increasing the efficiency of the braking devices functioning by using a special form of its working part profile is presented. The corresponding examples of the braking modes are given for a comparative assessment of the braking efficiency parameters when using braking devices with special and triangular profiles. The working part profile of the hydrodynamic braking device, calculated according to the proposed method provides more efficient and safe braking compared with the previously used triangular profile, by maintaining a constant stopping force in a wide speed range.