Lensing Material Shock Wave Focusing for Explosive Breaching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current explosive breaching techniques often require excessive explosive material, produce hazardous fragmentation, and fail to efficiently breach targets with minimal collateral damage, particularly in close-quarter operations and EOD applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a system comprising an explosive mass disposed on a lensing material with a tamper mass, where the lensing material converges and amplifies shock waves to focus energy onto the target, minimizing the amount of explosive needed and reducing fragmentation by dispersing the tamper mass into fine particles that dissipate energy quickly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional explosive breaching techniques are used, then breaching capability is achieved, but excessive explosive material is required and hazardous fragmentation is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and geometric parameters of the explosive material from conventional bulk forms to micro-scale particles or droplets dispersed in a carrier fluid. This parameter transformation reduces the amount of explosive needed while the dispersed configuration inherently minimizes fragmentation hazards, as the fine particles dissipate energy through air drag rather than forming dangerous shards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous or dispersed structure where explosive material is distributed as fine particles or bubbles within a carrier medium. This porous configuration increases surface area for energy release while reducing the density and fragmentation potential of the explosive mass, allowing effective breaching with reduced material quantity and lower fragmentation risk
2Productivity
If conventional explosive charges are used, then target breaching is achieved, but collateral damage increases due to excessive explosive material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies explosive material locally at the target interface rather than using bulk charges. The explosive is delivered precisely where needed through the carrier fluid medium, concentrating the breaching effect at the desired location while minimizing energy waste and collateral damage from excessive or misdirected explosive material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a carrier fluid (liquid or gas) to deliver and contain the explosive material until close proximity to the target. This hydraulic/pneumatic delivery system allows precise positioning and controlled release of the explosive, improving breaching efficiency while reducing collateral damage through better energy containment and directionality
3Stress or pressure
If tamper mass is used to confine explosive charge, then shock pressure is sustained, but dangerous fragments are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tamper mass from solid conventional materials to fine powder particles or aerosol droplets. These fine particles provide the necessary confining pressure to sustain shock duration while their small size and high surface-area-to-mass ratio cause them to dissipate energy rapidly through air drag, preventing the formation of dangerous large fragments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable fine powder or aerosol explosive and tamper materials that are designed to dissipate quickly after serving their purpose. These short-living materials fulfill the temporary need for pressure confinement and then rapidly lose energy to air resistance, eliminating the persistent fragmentation hazard associated with durable solid tamper materials
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 approach allows for effective breaching of various targets with significantly reduced explosive quantities, minimizing fragmentation and collateral damage, while providing precise energy transfer to achieve target defeat with enhanced breaching performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the lensing material converges and amplifies shock waves to focus energy onto the target
Implementation Method 2
converges and amplifies shock waves to focus energy
Implementation Method 3
dispersing the tamper mass into fine particles that dissipate energy quickly
Implementation Method 4
producing low-density, high-air-drag-resistant debris from the exploding charge
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for explosive breaching.