Mobile Target Secondary Debris (MTSD)

ABSTRACT:The objective of the project is to develop models for secondary debris generated by mobile targets. This includes the vehicle component breakup due to expanding high explosives and primary fragments as well as the associated airblast that propagates into the environment propelling secondary fragments from the vehicle. The overall scope of the project involves developing the computational and testing methodologies needed to generate mobile target secondary debris (MTSD) data, generating a suite of virtual or real test data, and develop a limited-scope prototype software tool suitable for MTSD that is available for use at the conclusions of the project. The scope involves (1) developing HFPB computational methodologies capable of computing the detonation of the explosive, the breakup of the weapon casing, the expansion of the detonation products, the fracture and breakup of the pickup truck components, and the residual blast and debris fly out into the environment including the effects of air drag.; (2) outline the data collection and cataloging process needed for a typical MTSD test; (3) generating a suite of data for use in developing a limited-scope MTSD fast-running model; (4) developing a limited-scope prototype software tool suitable for weaponeering applications.BENEFIT:The objectives at the conclusion of this SBIR effort are to produce a fast-running tool for predicting MTSD and publication of accepted methodologies and procedures for cost effective testing and collection of secondary debris data to support future FRM enhancement, development, and/or validation. The published reports will be a complete recipe for test instrumentation and setup, data collection, data reduction, modeling and simulation, FRM development, and validation and verification related to secondary debris generated from blast events. Such publications would be a valuable resource to the Government, in particular the DoD, and contractors that support the government as well as private companies that handle explosives or use industrial processes with an associated blast hazards. Such companies have an interest to quantify and mitigate secondary debris collateral damage from accidental explosions.