Rounded Projectiles for Explosive Device Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solid projectiles used in propellant driven disrupters for disabling explosive devices, such as IEDs, pose risks of undesired initiation or detonation due to unpredictable trajectory and secondary projectile formation, leading to fragmentation and spallation issues.
Innovation Solution
Development of rounded projectiles and cartridges that maintain a linear trajectory upon impact, forming a composite projectile via solid state welding with the barrier, minimizing secondary projectiles and ensuring controlled penetration without detonation, compatible with both smooth and rifled bore barrels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional solid projectiles are used to penetrate barriers, then penetration capability is improved, but trajectory predictability deteriorates due to fragmentation and spallation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical projectile geometry instead of conventional ogive or flat-based designs. The spherical shape provides aerodynamic stability during flight and upon barrier penetration, preventing the fragmentation and spallation that plague angular or pointed projectiles. This curvature-based design maintains trajectory predictability while achieving sufficient penetration through the barrier to reach and disrupt the explosive device.
2Reliability
If conventional solid projectiles are used to disrupt explosive devices, then disruption capability is improved, but risk of undesired initiation deteriorates due to secondary projectiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the source of secondary projectiles by using a monolithic spherical design without protruding features, rifling engagement surfaces, or composite structures that could fragment. The spherical geometry ensures that upon impact with the barrier, the projectile maintains structural integrity and does not shed fragments or spall, thereby removing the harmful secondary projectile effect that could inadvertently initiate the explosive.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical projectile design creates a controlled interaction environment with the barrier, where the impact physics are dominated by the spherical geometry rather than fragment ejection. This inert-like interaction prevents the generation of secondary projectiles that could act as initiation vectors, effectively creating a safe disruption mechanism.
3Length of stationary object
If conventional solid projectiles are used for explosive device disruption, then penetration through barrier is improved, but control over penetration path deteriorates due to trajectory changes upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical projectile geometry provides consistent rotational symmetry that maintains a stable trajectory through the barrier. Unlike conventional projectiles with asymmetric geometries that may tumble or deflect upon impact, the spherical shape ensures predictable penetration depth and path, allowing precise control over where the projectile exits the barrier and reaches the target explosive device.
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 rounded projectiles accurately penetrate explosive devices with minimal deviation, reducing the risk of detonation and secondary fragments, ensuring reliable disruption of explosive devices without initiating the explosive material.
Implementation Method 1
the step of impacting comprises forming a composite projectile via a solid state weld between the barrier portion of the explosive target to a RP distal end
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods and related devices for disrupting an explosive device using a propellant driven disrupter (PDD) that propels a rounded projectile (RP) toward an explosive device. The RP travels along a linear trajectory and impacts the target, including a barrier portion of the explosive device. The impacting between the RP and barrier forms a composite projectile via a solid state weld between a portion of the barrier and the RP distal end, thereby minimizing or avoiding spall and fragment generation into the explosive device. The projectile traverses a penetration distance along the linear trajectory, or a defined-angle relative thereto, to disrupt the explosive device without unwanted explosive detonation.