Pre-compressed Ceramic Penetrator Tip for Hardened Targets
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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, as they are unable to effectively absorb and utilize the energy for deep penetration.
Innovation Solution
A penetrator element is designed with a cylindrical shell and a ceramic or reactive tip element, where the shell applies radial compression to the tip, enhancing its structural integrity and impact strength, allowing for deeper cratering by minimizing tensile wave intensity and maximizing compressive strength during impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If conventional projectile weapons are used to penetrate hardened targets, then the payload mass and explosive charge are limited by transportability, but the penetration depth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pre-compression to the ceramic penetrator element, changing its physical state from uncompressed to compressed. This parameter change increases the penetrator's resistance to tensile waves and spallation during impact, enabling deeper penetration without increasing explosive charge quantity. The compressed state maintains structural integrity under the extreme stresses of target penetration.
2Strength
If kinetic energy transfer is used to penetrate hardened targets, then impact force is applied, but the target absorbs the impact without sufficient damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a ceramic penetrator element housed within a metallic cylindrical shell. The ceramic material provides high compressive strength and resistance to tensile waves, while the metallic shell provides structural support and containment. This composite design enables the penetrator to maintain integrity during impact and deliver sufficient damage to hardened targets by maximizing kinetic energy transfer while minimizing energy absorption by the target.
3Strength
If energetic materials are initiated prematurely, then explosion occurs before target impact, but only superficial damage is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the penetrator element from the explosive charge, placing the ceramic penetrator in a forward cavity of the cylindrical shell while the explosive materials are positioned in an aft cavity. This spatial separation ensures that the penetrator is not affected by premature initiation of the energetic materials. The penetrator maintains its structural integrity and can deliver deep penetration damage even if the explosive timing is not perfectly controlled.
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 solution enables deeper penetration of hardened targets by effectively transferring kinetic energy and maintaining structural integrity of the penetrator element, reducing superficial damage and enhancing the warhead's ability to disable deeply buried targets.
Implementation Method 1
The shell radially compresses the tip element along respective the interior and exterior annular surfaces that adjoin each other
Implementation Method 2
Such penetration may be obviated by kinetic energy transfer from a projectile to the target
Data Source
AI summary
A penetrator instrument disposable in a projectile is provided for penetrating a target. The instrument includes a substantially cylindrical shell and a tip element. The shell includes a cavity at a fore end. The surface has an interior annular surface. The tip element is disposable into the cavity. The element has an exterior annular surface. The shell radially compresses the tip element along respective the interior and exterior annular surfaces that adjoin each other. The shell can optionally include an aft bore for mass balancing or containment of auxiliary materials. The element can be a ceramic or composed of reactive materials.