Kinetic Energy Control Technologies for Explosively-dispersed Fragments

ABSTRACT: Our proposal involves enabling technologies to enhance the lethality of a directionally focused fragment warhead. Our concept involves three innovations to improve the lethality and reduce the possibility of collateral damage. The three innovations are: shock/shock interactions to increase the velocity (kinetic energy) of the fragments; incorporation of micro-fragments in the reactive material (RM) to produce a"two-stage"fragment field; and improved fragment liner material and architecture to produce a tightly focused beam pattern. The first innovation is designed to increase the shock pressure delivered to the fragments beyond the Chapman-Jouguet detonation pressure by using an energetic material architecture and initiation scheme to produce a Mach stem that impacts the fragment array. The objective of the second innovation is to enhance lethality by including high-mass density micro-fragments (or macro-particles) in the RM to create a"two-stage"focused fragment field. The final innovation is a new fragment liner with a high-density frangible retainer ring or cup. The primary objective is to produce a tightly focused fragment pattern and the secondary objective is to maximize the kinetic energy of the fragments by minimizing"blow-by"of the explosive products and hence optimize the momentum delivered to the fragment array. BENEFIT: Examples of dual-use commercial applications for the proposed research include: (1) low collateral damage explosive defeat of IEDs for domestic bomb squads; and (2) novel energetic tools and devices for down-hole perforation operations in the oil production industry