Projectile Active Body With Predetermined Break Points on Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fragmentation warheads and projectiles fail to effectively increase the number of fragments upon impact, leading to reduced effectiveness against armored targets, as they are designed with large fragments that either penetrate without further fragmentation or fragment in an uncontrolled manner, reducing the damage within the target.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating active elements with predetermined breaking points within the projectile or warhead, manufactured using additive manufacturing, which maintain structural integrity during launch and flight, fragmenting only upon impact to generate a defined number of smaller fragments for enhanced penetration and reaction within the target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If large fragments are used in fragmentation warheads, then penetration power is improved, but the number of fragments upon impact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The active element is segmented into multiple fragments that are pre-formed and connected by bridges. Upon impact, the bridges break to release the fragments, providing both sufficient penetration power (each fragment maintains structural integrity) and increased fragment quantity (multiple fragments are released simultaneously).
Solution Approach 2:
The fragments are pre-formed and positioned within the active element before launch. The bridges are pre-configured to break at the target, allowing the fragments to be ready for immediate deployment upon impact, maximizing both penetration capability and fragment distribution.
2Manufacturing precision
If predetermined breaking points are incorporated in the active element, then fragmentation upon impact is improved, but structural integrity during flight is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking points are localized to specific weak bridges between fragments, while the rest of the active element maintains full structural integrity. This localized weakening allows controlled fragmentation only at the predetermined locations without compromising overall strength during flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the bridges are changed to be weaker than the fragments themselves, creating a gradient in mechanical strength. The bridges are designed with reduced cross-section or different material composition, allowing them to break first upon impact while the fragments remain intact.
3Ease of manufacture
If additive manufacturing is used to manufacture the active element, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision of breaking points is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The additive manufacturing process parameters are adjusted to create deliberate variations in material density and strength at the bridge locations. By controlling layer deposition, cooling rates, or infill patterns, the bridges are manufactured with inherently lower strength than the fragments, creating precise breaking points through process parameter manipulation.
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 active elements with internal breaking points ensure high penetration power while increasing the number of fragments that react or release additional components upon impact, optimizing the effect on armored targets by enhancing fragmentation and reaction within the target.
Implementation Method 1
The active element is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process in one piece with respect to all fragments and bridges. The fragments are formed by the starting material being maximally or finally solidified. The bridges are formed in such a way that the starting material is only partially solidified.
Implementation Method 2
At the breaking point of the missile, the predetermined breaking points, in particular the bridges and their connection to the fragments, break; the planned breaking occurs. As a consequence, the fragments separate from one another
Implementation Method 3
The active element is accelerated by the reaction of an explosive, but the active element itself does not disintegrate during the reaction. The bridges are not broken within the active element during the reaction of the explosive.
Data Source
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AI summary
A projectile (8) for a projectile (2) contains at least two fragments (10) and a bridge (12) connecting them, forming a predetermined breaking point. During launch (14) and flight (18) of the projectile (8), the bridges (12) continue to hold the fragments (10) together as they approach a breaking point (20). At the breaking point (20), the predetermined breaking points break, and the fragments (10) separate from one another, with the fragments (10) themselves remaining intact. A projectile (2) contains the projectile (8). In one method, at least part of the projectile (8) is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. In one method, either the active agent (8) is fired towards a target (22) and the breaking point (20) is the impact on the target (22), or the active agent (8) is fired with a projectile (2) containing explosive (30) and accelerated by the reaction of the explosive.The breaking point here, too, is the impact on the target.