Single Action Wall (SAW) Breecher

Present approaches for creating openings in reinforced concrete, masonry or other typical heavy construction materials include simple demolition kits (M112 blocks or satchel charges) and newly developed devices like the “rapid wall breaching kit”. These devices can breach concrete and masonry targets but often do not defeat the reinforcing steel. This Phase I SBIR proposal describes an approach to develop and validate a preliminary concept for an efficient, hand emplaced, single “action” wall breacher capable of generating large holes in target walls in a single step. The device will be man portable, unfuzed, will have a single initiation point, should be able to be setup by 1-2 soldiers, will not require aiming, and should focus force on the target (reduce collateral damage.) The concept envisioned incorporates a central impulse generating mechanism consisting of an explosive backed thin ductile lens surrounded by a heavy annular explosive backed lens. Upon initiation, the central lens and explosive will impact and locally fail and “breach” the concrete section. The trapped momentum in the central failed section will initiate tearing and severance of the peripheral rebar. The annular lens completes the rebar cutting upon impact, and serves to clear the debris, creating the desired opening.