HEET Fluid Jets for IED Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water jets used in propellant driven disrupters for neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) suffer from degradation issues such as reduced jet impact duration, penetration depth, and stand-off distance due to fluid dynamic stresses, making them unreliable for certain explosive devices and environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of specially designed Highly Efficient Energy Transfer (HEET) fluids with tailored rheological properties, loaded into friction reducing containers, which maintain desired fluid jet characteristics to ensure effective target engagement and safety, including the inclusion of solid particles and semi-solids to enhance viscosity and density gradients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If water is used as the fluid propellant in the propellant driven disrupter, then the jet has a relatively large cross sectional area and can tear apart the fuzing system inside an IED, but the water jet breaks up quickly into a cloud of water droplets through fluid dynamic stresses, leading to degradation of jet impact duration, penetration depth, and stand-off distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the fluid propellant by using a non-Newtonian fluid with shear-thickening properties instead of water. This parameter change allows the fluid to maintain its jet coherence and structural integrity under fluid dynamic stresses, preventing breakup into droplets while preserving the large cross-sectional area needed for effective IED disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite fluid system consisting of a non-Newtonian fluid with specific rheological properties. This composite material approach creates a fluid that combines the benefits of water (large cross-sectional area, low shock initiation risk) with enhanced jet stability and resistance to fluid dynamic stresses, thereby maintaining reliable jet impact duration and penetration depth.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water is used as the fluid propellant, then the low density produces low impact pressures and reduced probability of explosives shock initiation, but the jet breaks up quickly leading to reduced penetration depth and stand-off distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the fluid density and rheological parameters by using a non-Newtonian fluid with shear-thickening properties. This parameter change enables the fluid to maintain higher impact pressures and penetration depth while still controlling shock initiation probability through controlled impact characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dynamic rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids that change viscosity under stress. The fluid remains relatively low density during storage and transport but exhibits increased viscosity and structural integrity during jet formation and impact, thereby achieving both low shock initiation probability and enhanced penetration depth.
3Temperature
If conventional water jets are used, then the temperature remains approximately constant minimizing latent heat, but the jet breaks up quickly into droplets degrading volumetric destruction capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fluid's rheological parameters by using a non-Newtonian fluid that maintains temperature stability while resisting breakup into droplets. This parameter change preserves the minimal latent heat advantage of water while significantly improving jet coherence and volumetric destruction capability through enhanced resistance to fluid dynamic stresses.
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 HEET fluid system provides improved jet length, impact duration, penetration depth, and stand-off distance, increasing the likelihood of successful disarmament while reducing the risk of inadvertent explosion, maintaining safety, and requiring minimal user inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
propellant driven disrupter
Implementation Method 2
fire a jet of water
Implementation Method 3
a considerable amount of the water's momentum and energy is transferred to the bomb
Implementation Method 4
jet impact duration
Implementation Method 5
friction reducing container
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are projectiles for use in a propellant driven disrupter device, and associated methods, to neutralize an explosive target. The projectile may comprise a friction reducing container at least partially filled with one or more fluids, fluid mixtures, particles, and other components to provide one or more desired fluid properties to achieve a desired one or more jet parameters upon target impact. The fluid(s) in the container are referred to as highly efficient energy transfer (HEET) fluids do to the improved fluid jet action on target compared to conventional water projectiles. The projectiles and disruptor can be more precisely individually tailored to the target, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful disablement and decreasing the likelihood of inadvertent and uncontrolled explosion.