Scribd
Upload
58 views2 pages

DAAAM04 Zecevic Explosive

The document discusses experimental research on how changing the explosive charge of a warhead affects the natural fragmentation of the warhead. It analyzes test results from warheads using two different explosives, finding that a more powerful explosive produced more fragments with smaller average mass and higher velocities.

Uploaded by

haitham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
58 views2 pages

DAAAM04 Zecevic Explosive

The document discusses experimental research on how changing the explosive charge of a warhead affects the natural fragmentation of the warhead. It analyzes test results from warheads using two different explosives, finding that a more powerful explosive produced more fragments with smaller average mass and higher velocities.

Uploaded by

haitham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

15 th DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

"Intelligent Manufacturing & Automation: Globalization Technology Men Nature"


3-6 th November 2004, Vienna, Austria

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON INFLUENCE OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGE TO


NATURAL FRAGMENT SIZE DISTRIBUTION
Zecevic, B.; Terzi, J. & Catovic, A.
Abstract: At natural fragmentation of warheads, replacement
of explosive charge with greater detonation rate considerable
affects geometry of natural fragments as well as their mass and
spatial distribution, and particularly changes of fragments
velocities. Authors proposed a new approach to presentation of
experimental results, which enables selection of an optimal
warhead explosive charge.
Key words: warhead, natural fragmentation, explosive charge,
fragment velocity, fragment size.

and velocity of fragments). Warhead cases were made of the


steel C70D, and warhead masses were kept the same, but only
types of explosive charge were varied (TNT and Composition
B). Ratios of explosive charge mass and warhead metal case
mass were CTNT/m = 0,565 and CComp B/m = 0,587.
Dimensionless thickness of the warhead shell W2 was t/d =
0,08237. Four fragmentation tests were carried out for each
type of explosive charge.

1. INTRODUCTION
Measurements of warhead performances require very complex
measuring equipment and measuring process itself is expensive
as well. HE warhead efficiency at natural fragmentation
depends on fragments space distribution, mass, shape and
velocity of each fragment and projectile impact conditions.
Fragment velocity depends directly on warhead metal shell and
explosive charge mass ratio, detonation rate and density of
explosive charge. Geometric shape of natural fragments, their
mass and spatial distribution are functions of designed warhead
shell geometry, mechanical properties of warhead shell
material (tensile strength and toughness) as well as
performances of explosive (physical and energetic). It is
essential to have a capability to make warhead performance
prediction in the earliest phases of ammunition preliminary
design. This warhead performances prediction capability is
based on comprehensive database of warheads natural
fragmentation performances (Gold at al., 2001).
Artillery projectiles or rocket warheads are usually twodimensional axial symmetric. Natural fragmentation of
projectiles or warheads results in wide range random
distributions of fragment sizes (masses and geometries).
Expansion of warhead shell caused by detonation products of
explosive charge brings about a body being split into various
sized fragments. Detonation products cause expansion of
warhead case greater than about twice the warhead initial
radius. The maximum fragment velocity (95 to 100% of the
Gurney velocity) is achieved at the end of fragment
acceleration at a radius of about 1.6 to 1.8 times the initial
warhead radius (Lloyd, 1999).
2. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON

INFLUENCE OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGE TO


FRAGMENT SIZE DISTRIBUTION
Experimental researches performed by the authors were aimed
at estimation of natural fragmentation performances (number,
mass and fragments shape) of warhead when the explosive
charge is changed (comparison of two explosive charges with
different detonation rates and densities). Number, mass and
fragments shape at natural fragmentation of warheads have
been determined by Pit test. The point of research was an
estimation of influence of detonation rate on natural warhead
fragmentation performances (number, mass, geometrical shape

Fig. 1 Warhead W2
For prediction of size distribution of natural fragmented
warhead, the Held formula with two parameters and the total
mass M0 or the best fit of total mass M0Best as inputs, gives an
excellent description of the experimentally found mass
distributions of a natural fragmented warhead (Held, 1993). An
improved fit to natural-fragmentation data can be obtained
using equation:

M (n ) = M 0 1 e Bn

(1)

where; B and are both empirically determined constants, with


B = const. d / t and of order 10-2 and of order 2/3. In the
Held equation M0 is the total mass of all fragments, M(n) and n
are the cumulative fragments mass and cumulative fragments
number beginning with the heaviest fragment. Held frequently
found that it was necessary to discard a few of the heaviest
fragments in order to obtain a curve fit to data over the rest of
the range. The constants B and are determined from above
equation by mathematical transformation:

(2)
[M 0 M (n )] M 0 = e Bn
and the natural logarithm of the above equation is:

ln[(M 0 M (n )) M 0 ] = B n

(3)

If the logarithm of above equation is performed again, it is


possible to determine the constants B and in the log-log plot.
By differentiating of the equation, Held M(n) gave the
approximate mass of the n-th fragment:

m(n ) = dM (n ) dn = M 0 B n 1 e Bn

(4)

From the fragment mass distribution (FMD) log-log


diagram, constant B and exponent with correlation coefficient
r2 are obtained. If in the log-log diagram, the straight line does
not fit the measuring data very well, given total mass Mo is not
an optimum mass for such fragments mass distribution. Now,
an optimum mass (or best mass) M0Best is calculated:
(5)
M 0 = M (n ) 1 e
Best

Bn

The constants B and are originally determined. The new


constants BB and B are determined with the total mass M0Best

M (n ) = M 0Best 1 e BB n

(6)

This procedure is repeated until a satisfactory correlation


coefficient is obtained ( r 2 0,99 ).
Fragments were classified by mass groups and
experimental data were processed using Held methodology
(Fig.2).

detonation products generated by more powerful explosive.


When more powerful explosive is used, initial warhead volume
is increased more intensive and warhead case thickness is
decreased (condition of mass conservation). Explosive Comp B
has 40% greater detonation pressure and 12% greater
detonation rate. Experimental researches showed that warhead
volume can be risen more considerable before fragmentation
process has been started (Zecevic and al., 2004). Increase of the
ratio Vi/V0 causes decrease of the ratio ti/t0, that result in a
greater fragments number with less mean fragments mass.

Fig. 2 Cumulative fragments mass dependency on cumulative


fragments number
Fragment velocities are measured using different
techniques as electronic, optical or x-ray. If these techniques
are not available, initial velocity of fragments released from
explosion of a warhead is approximated by the Gurney
formula. The simplest expression of the Gurney formula for
symmetrical configurations is:
(7)
vGurney = 2 E 1 / (0,5 + M / C )
where 2 E is Gurney constant, M-metal mass of warhead
case and C - mass of explosive charge (Karp, 1975). The
Gurney constant can be approximated by the simple
expression 2 E = 0,338 D , where D is the detonation
velocity (depending on explosive type and its density).

Fig. 4 Fragments number contribution, or fragment mass


contribution as a function of the mean fragments mass
The warhead with explosive charge of Comp B has in 4%
greater metal mass loss compared to the warhead with TNT
explosive charge. Explosive Comp B has 12% greater
detonation rate and 3,8% greater density related to TNT.
Increased detonation rate and greater explosive density affect
increase of fragments velocity in 13,8 %, so fragments with
less mean masses have considerable greater kinetic energy and
lethality as well.

4. CONCLUSION

Fig.3 Variation of fragment velocity as a function of explosive


type

3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ANALYSIS


Warhead with the case made of steel C70D and Comp B
produces larger number of fragments compared to the warhead
with TNT explosive charge. At the same time, at the first
variant of warheads a larger loss of the fragments mass was
registered (metal part of the warhead was transformed to very
small fragments), 11,7 % compared to 8,7 % for another one.
However, it is not possible to conclude from Fig.3 which
warhead has better fragmentation performances. Because of
that, authors presented their results in a different way (Fig. 4).
The mean mass of particular groups was taken as a variable.
Correlation between fragments number of mass groups, whose
mean masses are less than mean fragments mass related to total
fragments number, or between fragments mass of these mass
groups and total fragments mass of the warhead were
established. The warhead with explosive charge of Comp. B
generates more fragments but with less mean mass and with
more fragment mass contribution. Authors explained such
results as consequence of more intensive influence of

It was not possible to be clear defined an influence of explosive


type on natural fragmentation performances by using Held
method.
Authors proposed a new approach to presentation of
experimental results, which enables selection of an optimal
warhead explosive charge.
The warhead with Comp B explosive charge generates
more fragments (57%) with greater fragments kinetic energy
and increased fragments spatial distribution density, which
considerable increase lethal zone of such filled warheads.

5. REFERENCES
Gold V.; Baker E., Ng K. & Hirlinger, J. (2001). A Method for
Prediction Fragmentation Characteristics of Natural and
Preformed Explosive Fragmentation Munitions, ARWECTR-01007, US Army Armament Research, Development
and Engineering Center
Held M. (1993). Fragmentation Warhead, Tactical Missile
Warhead, Edited by Carleone J., Progress in Astronautics
and Aeronautics, Volume 155, AIAA, Washington, 1993.
Karpp R. & Predebon W. (1975). Calculation of fragment
velocity from natural fragmenting munitions, BRL
Memorandum Report N0. 2509, USA Ballistic research
Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Lloyd R. (1999). Conventional Warhead System Physics and
Engineering design, Progress in Astronautics and
Aeronautics, Volume 179, AIAA
Zecevic, B; Terzic, J. & Catovic, A. (2004). Influence of
Warhead Case Material on Natural Fragmentation
Performances, Annals of DAAAM for 2004 & Proceedings
of the 15th International DAAAM Symposium, Viena

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy