Pre-compressed Ceramic Penetrator for Hardened Target Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectile weapons face challenges in penetrating hardened targets due to limited kinetic energy transfer and premature initiation of energetic materials, resulting in superficial damage, especially when the target absorbs impact without sufficient disablement.
Innovation Solution
A warhead instrument with a ceramic or reactive penetrator element is designed, featuring pre-compression to enhance mechanical integrity and axial-radial support, utilizing a cylindrical core with radially extending surfaces and axial-radial constraining devices to maintain structural integrity during penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional projectile weapons are used to penetrate hardened targets, then kinetic energy transfer occurs, but the target absorbs impact without sufficient damage for disablement
Solution Approach 1:
The penetrator element is pre-compressed to a高密度 state before impact, storing elastic energy that is released during penetration to enhance kinetic energy transfer and create deeper craters in the target
Solution Approach 2:
The penetrator element changes its physical state from uncompressed to compressed, altering its density and mechanical properties to maximize energy transfer efficiency upon impact with the hardened target
2Strength
If explosive charge is used in the warhead, then chemical reaction damage occurs, but premature initiation produces only superficial damage to the hardened target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces premature chemical explosion with a controlled mechanical impact system, using a pre-compressed penetrator element to deliver kinetic energy first, creating a crater before any explosive reaction occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical penetration action is performed preliminarily by the pre-compressed penetrator element before the explosive charge initiates, ensuring deep crater formation and structural damage before chemical energy is released
3Quantity of substance
If payload mass is limited in the warhead, then transportable explosive charge capacity is reduced, but this limits the ability to penetrate deeply buried targets
Solution Approach 1:
The penetrator element's density parameter is changed through pre-compression, allowing more mass to be packed into a smaller volume, thereby increasing penetration capability without exceeding payload mass limits
Solution Approach 2:
The penetrator element uses composite construction with a ceramic or reactive material core surrounded by a metal casing, combining the high density and compressive strength of ceramics with the ductility and protective properties of metal
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 pre-compressed ceramic or reactive penetrator elements effectively transfer kinetic energy and maintain mechanical integrity, enabling deeper penetration and structural damage to hardened targets by minimizing tensile wave intensity and maximizing compressive strength.
Implementation Method 1
a penetrator element is pre-compressed to a high-density state in a delivery vehicle before impact with a target
Implementation Method 2
Such penetration may be obviated by kinetic energy transfer from a projectile to the target
Data Source
AI summary
A projectile instrument is provided for penetrating a target, the penetrator element being disposable in a projectile. The instrument includes a substantially cylindrical core, first and second plates and first and second devices. The core has first and second ends and a radially extending surface. The first plate supports the first end; the second plate supports the second end. The first device radially constrains the surface, whereas the second device axially constrains the first and second ends respectively disposed between their corresponding plates. Preferably, the core is either a ceramic or else is composed of reactive materials. In one embodiment, the first plate and the first device combine as a closed sleeve; the second plate is a lid removably secured to the first plate; and the second device is a helical spring disposed between the first end and the first plate. In another embodiment, the first and second devices constitute a plurality of bolt-and-nut assemblies, each bolt-and-nut assembly having a bolt and a nut, the bolt having a shaft terminating at head and tail ends, the shaft mechanically engaging the surface, the head end having a cap mounted to the shaft and male threads on the tail end, and the nut has female threads compatible with the male threads, the head and the bolt engaging against the first and second plates to compress the core.