Dependence of natural fragmentation characteristics of a casing material on explosive parameters

Abstract

Since the prediction of warhead performance is crucial in the early stages of design and the scaling of this procedure is complex and expensive, it is beneficial to have measurable parameters in one optimal model to improve the efficiency of prediction. In general, the type of explosive, mechanical properties and warhead geometries have been proven in previous approaches to provide critical parameters, in terms of size, spatial and velocity distribution, in warhead fragmentation. Statistical approaches have been developed to describe this fragmentation with a combination of these parameters (statistical factors with mechanical properties or explosive properties), and thus, the possibility of developing an integrated model that encompass the effect of detonation behaviour on natural fragmentation characteristics for the same casing material in one scale factor still exists. A literature review describes how the current models based on statistical factors have been investigated with only a single donor explosive is assumed (most commonly TNT or Composition B) in most of these studies. However, it is clear from the trends in munitions development that explosives with characteristics quite different from TNT and Composition B are being increasingly used. Therefore, limited research has been performed on the changes in fragmentation that occur in a specific material due to either changing the explosive type or changing the detonation characteristics of the same explosive. This study investigates the dominant explosive parameters that dictate the fragmentation process. In addition, this study pursues the possibility of developing an integrated model that includes both explosive and material parameters in one simple analytical model.