Fragmentation Device Carbon Surface Hardening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Historical military fragmentation devices made of ductile materials do not uniformly rupture at designed fracture locations, resulting in partial fragmentation and leaving significant material intact due to their ductility.
Innovation Solution
A fragmentation device with varying carbon content and thickness profiles is created by positioning it in a carbon-rich environment to increase carbon absorption, making the surface areas more brittle and prone to fracture at specific stress points, thereby ensuring uniform fragmentation into smaller fragments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ductile material is used for fragmentation device, then the material can be formed and manufactured easily, but the material does not rupture uniformly at designed fracture locations resulting in partial fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform carbon distribution within the steel material. The carbon content varies from 0.2-0.5% in the bulk material to 0.6-1.2% at the surface regions. This localized variation in composition creates surface regions with different mechanical properties (higher hardness, lower ductility) that preferentially fracture at designed locations while the core material maintains its formability and structural integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If surface carbon content is increased to promote fracture, then fragmentation uniformity improves, but the surface hardness and brittleness increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by precisely controlling the carbon content gradient through the material thickness. The carbon content is increased at the surface (0.6-1.2%) compared to the bulk (0.2-0.5%), but kept within specific ranges to achieve the desired balance. This controlled parameter variation creates the necessary brittleness for uniform fragmentation while preventing excessive hardness that would compromise the device's structural integrity before detonation.
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
The method achieves nearly complete fragmentation by making the device more brittle at surface areas, ensuring that it fractures uniformly along designed stress points, increasing the number of fragments produced during an explosive event.
Implementation Method 1
positioning the fragmentation device within a carbon-rich environment, increasing the temperature within the carbon-rich environment up to 1,200° C., and absorbing carbon from the carbon-rich environment into the first and second surfaces of the fragmentation device
Implementation Method 2
increasing a content of carbon at the first and second surfaces of 0.06 wt. % carbon to 1.0 wt. % carbon and maintaining an original content of carbon of 0.01 wt. % carbon to 0.05 wt. % carbon at the fourth section of the fragmentation device by controlling penetration of the carbon into the fourth section
Data Source
AI summary
A method of modifying material properties of a fragmentation device, includes providing a fragmentation device with a first surface, a first section, a second section, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a third section, and a fourth section disposed between the first, second, and third sections. The method further includes positioning the fragmentation device within a carbon-rich environment, and absorbing carbon from the carbon-rich environment into the first and second surfaces of the fragmentation device. Additionally, the method further includes increasing a content of carbon at the first and second surfaces of 0.06 wt. % carbon to 1.0 wt. % carbon and maintaining an original content of carbon of 0.01 wt. % carbon to 0.05 wt. % carbon at the fourth section of the fragmentation device by controlling penetration of the carbon into the fourth section.