Modeling High Explosive (HE) Detonation Response and Resulting Debris/Shrapnel Generation from Submunitions Warheads

PeopleTec, Inc., a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), teamed with SECOTEC and ITT Exelis, developed an innovative and economical solution for evaluating high explosive detonation response to impact through a Phase I SBIR. The Phase II program goals are to fabricate and demonstrate an end-to-end checkout of an innovative, low-cost test instrument enabling the assessment of a wide variety of high explosives and energetic materials. Termed the Controlled High Explosive Response Test Apparatus (CHERTA), the device controls the orientation of the projectile to the point of impact on an explosive test sample. CHERTA is designed to solve the two primary obstacles to high explosive response testing: lack of repeatability of impact conditions, notably for flat impacts and high per-test event costs. Phase II program deliverables will consist of the completed CHERTA research test device, a high data rate instrumentation system and demonstrated system functionality through six test trials. Approved for Public Release 14-MDA-7739 (18 March 14).