Innovative Steel Processing for Affordable Bomb Bodies

A combination of innovative steel pipe continuous flow casting and heat treating will be combined to produce lower cost, a) general purpose (Mk 80 series), and b) deeper penetration (BLU-109/B [BLU-137B upgrade] bombs. Additionally, these steel manufacturing processes may also enable the production of lower cost c) high fragmentation, area attack weapons. This proposed flexible and scalable manufacturing process will allow the use of low alloy steels (ductile irons) to be transformed into viable bomb body steels through the proposed innovative continuous flow casting process, followed by novel heat treat and quenching process. In summary, the continuous flow casting of seamless ductile iron pipes will produce , defect free pipes near the desired final dimensions of the bomb body. Since these pipes are made from ductile iron, traditional fabrication processes will be implemented to readily machine the near net shape bomb bodies to the desired outer-mold lines and mass properties. Once machined, the novel heat treat and quenching process will be implemented to transform the ductile irons into a steel with the desired mechanical requirements that conform to the Technical Data Packages of both the general purpose and deep penetration bomb bodies.