Modular Warhead with Serial Fragmenting Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current warhead designs lack modularity and adaptability to address specific targets and engagement conditions, with traditional monolithic structures being inflexible and costly to produce, especially when requiring various lethal effects and complex geometries.
Innovation Solution
A modular, scalable warhead design featuring a composite fragmenting body with serially arranged preferentially fragmenting projectile rings and an axial core subassembly, allowing for interchangeable components and adaptable mounting methods, enabling anti-personnel and anti-armor effects while minimizing the impact of non-ideal warhead case geometries on shock wave shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional monolithic warhead structures are used, then structural strength and simplicity are improved, but modularity and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The warhead body is divided into multiple discrete rings (first ring, second ring, third ring) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each ring serves specific functions: the first ring contains preferentially fragmenting projectiles, the second ring contains non-fragmenting projectiles, and the third ring provides structural support. This segmentation enables modular assembly and disassembly while maintaining overall structural integrity through interconnected design.
Solution Approach 2:
The warhead body structure is designed to accommodate multiple types of projectiles and effects within a single integrated system. The universal ring structure can host both fragmenting and non-fragmenting projectiles, allowing the same basic platform to address different target types (personnel and armor) without requiring completely separate warhead designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex geometries are used to address specific targets, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Complex warhead geometries are achieved through assembly of simpler ring components rather than manufacturing a single complex monolithic structure. Each ring can be manufactured using standard processes, and the complex overall geometry emerges from the arrangement and configuration of these simpler parts, reducing manufacturing difficulty and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structures are nested within the warhead body in a hierarchical arrangement, with each ring containing specific projectile types. This nesting approach allows complex functional geometries to be built from simpler concentric components, facilitating manufacturing while maintaining the adaptability needed for different target engagements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If various lethal effects are integrated into a single warhead, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different lethal effects are segregated into separate rings: the first ring contains preferentially fragmenting projectiles for anti-personnel effects, while the second ring contains non-fragmenting projectiles for anti-armor effects. This segmentation of effects into discrete modules allows versatility to be achieved through modular assembly rather than integrating all effects into a single complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the warhead (different rings) are optimized for different local functions: the first ring is optimized for fragmentation and personnel engagement, while the second ring is optimized for penetrator performance against armor. This local optimization of quality in different zones enables multiple lethal effects without requiring a uniformly complex design throughout the entire warhead.
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 modular design provides rapid adaptation to different targets and delivery vehicles, enhances fragmentation efficiency, and reduces production costs by allowing for low-cost manufacturing and interchangeable subassemblies, maintaining performance across multiple roles and environments.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive bonding the preferentially fragmenting projectile rings to the warhead body liner. The preferentially fragmenting projectile rings, the warhead body liner and the adhesive form a unitary composite fragmenting warhead body
Implementation Method 2
warhead high explosive in the warhead body... warhead high explosive operative, when detonated, to drive fragments from the warhead body
Implementation Method 3
an axial core high explosive disposed in the axial core tube and operative, when detonated, to drive the forward effector
Data Source
AI summary
A warhead includes a tubular warhead body including a plurality of serially arranged preferentially fragmenting projectile rings, and warhead high explosive in the warhead body.