Concentric Annular Warhead Fragmentation Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warheads do not effectively maximize the kinetic energy of fragments upon detonation, leading to suboptimal penetration and damage capabilities due to inefficient containment and transfer of explosive energy.
Innovation Solution
A warhead design featuring concentric annular sleeves with smaller fragments embedded in a binder material between an explosive charge and larger fragments, where the smaller fragments are placed interstitially within the larger fragments to form an expanding fragmentation curtain, enhancing gas containment and kinetic energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional warhead designs are used with single-layer fragments, then the structure is simple, but the kinetic energy transfer and penetration effectiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The warhead fragments are segmented into multiple size classes (small, medium, large fragments) arranged in concentric layers. This segmentation allows different fragment sizes to serve different functions: small fragments provide widespread coverage, medium fragments provide intermediate penetration, and large fragments provide deep penetration, thereby maximizing overall kinetic energy transfer and effectiveness while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested concentric layer structure where small fragments form an inner layer, medium fragments form an intermediate layer, and large fragments form an outer layer. This nesting arrangement allows expanding gases to systematically accelerate fragments from the innermost layer outward, ensuring efficient energy transfer through multiple stages while containing the complex multi-layer structure within a compact spherical geometry.
2Stress or pressure
If expanding gases are not contained, then the structure is simple, but the pressure and kinetic energy of fragments are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary binding material that temporarily holds fragments in their respective concentric layers before detonation. This binding material acts as a mediator that maintains the precise spatial arrangement of fragments, allowing expanding gases to systematically accelerate them in sequence from inner to outer layers, thereby maximizing pressure buildup and kinetic energy transfer while the binding material disintegrates during the explosion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The binding material functions as a flexible, frangible structure that holds fragments in place during storage and transport but disintegrates upon detonation. This flexible yet temporarily rigid structure allows the fragmentation curtain to form and contain expanding gases effectively, creating the necessary pressure environment while maintaining structural integrity only when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between containment effectiveness and structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly increases the kinetic energy of fragments by prolonging gas containment and accelerating both small and large fragments, resulting in improved penetration and damage effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy accompanied by the generation of high temperatures and the release expanding gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known as detonations and travel via supersonic shock waves.
Implementation Method 2
Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known as detonations and travel via supersonic shock waves.
Implementation Method 3
The penetration effectiveness of a fragment when it strikes a target is directly proportional to the fragment's kinetic energy. The fragments kinetic energy is derived from an explosion.
Data Source
AI summary
A deliverable weapon, such as a missile, an artillery round, an aerial bomb, or a mortar round, having an explosive warhead, utilizes concentric annular sleeves that upon detonation provide placement of smaller fragments of an inner annular sleeve interstitially with respect to larger fragments of an outer annular sleeve in an expanding fragmentation curtain that contains expanding gases to increase the pressure of the explosion and the kinetic energy transferred to the fragments. In embodiments, the sleeves are comprised of ordered layers of spherical metal fragments encased in binder material and an outer casing.