Multi-stage Shaped-charge Warheads

MATSYS proposes to develop and demonstrate warheads capable of perforating light armored vehicles and unmanned aerial systems, coupled with a follow through mechanism that will defeat various targets. Shaped charge liners require explosives to drive the collapse of the liner and subsequent formation of the jet. This is an inherently inefficient process because only 10% of the liner mass is used to form the jet. In addition, the energy transfer from the detonation products into kinetic energy of the liner is woefully inefficient, primarily because of the shock impedance mismatch between the detonation products and the typical copper liner. Lower density materials, such as aluminum, have better impedance matching to the explosive, and therefore the transfer of energy is more efficient. Unfortunately, aluminum liners do not make good jets. This problem can be alleviated through the development of bi-metallic liners, with the liner material placed closest to the explosive couples well with the explosive (i.e., impedance matching) while the material on the other side forms a well-performing jet. The selection of reactive materials will further enhance performance. Our approach is to use modeling and simulation to identify novel material combinations, and develop designs for bi-metallic liners and associated prototyping technology.