Shaped Charge Fluid Jet Disruption and Shock Initiation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shaped charges used for disrupting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) face challenges in minimizing the risk of unwanted shock initiation while maintaining effective target disruption capabilities, particularly due to high explosive charge masses and inefficient fluid jet profiles.
Innovation Solution
The development of shaped charges with a catenary paraboloid geometry, featuring a plastic shell with a truncated cone and smoothly-curved concave shape, which supports a shape-conforming explosive to propel a fluid mass toward a target with reduced shock impulse and increased explosive load capacity, utilizing a cylindrical plastic body with a detonator channel and a spherical projectile for enhanced jet stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high explosive charge mass is used to increase disruption capability, then target disruption effectiveness is improved, but risk of unwanted shock initiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive charge is distributed non-uniformly within the fluid mass, with higher concentration near the front face and lower concentration toward the rear. This local variation in explosive density allows the front portion to generate sufficient shock for barrier penetration while the rear portion contributes to sustained pressure without excessive peak shock that would cause unwanted initiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of explosive charge mass distribution from uniform to non-uniform. By varying the local explosive density parameter throughout the fluid mass, the system achieves both high disruption capability and reduced shock initiation risk through optimized pressure-time history.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional linear shaped charge geometry is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but jet mass and disruption efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from conventional linear one-dimensional charge geometry to a three-dimensional volume charge distributed throughout the fluid mass. This dimensional expansion allows the explosive energy to be applied more effectively in multiple directions, increasing jet mass and disruption efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of standard fluid containers.
3Speed
If conical LIFT charge geometry is used to achieve high jet velocity, then barrier penetration capability is improved, but jet mass and bulk work are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs an asymmetric charge distribution within the fluid mass, with the explosive concentration varying along the longitudinal axis and potentially in radial directions. This asymmetric distribution allows the formation of a high-velocity jet core while maintaining substantial jet mass through the surrounding fluid, achieving both penetration capability and bulk work.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical LIFT charge geometry is nested within the larger fluid mass container. The high-velocity jet is generated by the conical charge configuration, while the surrounding fluid mass provides additional material for the jet and increases the overall bulk work capability without significantly compromising jet velocity.
4Ease of manufacture
If omnidirectional rod-shaped charge is used, then axial symmetry and manufacturing ease are achieved, but jet density and coherence are reduced due to droplet particulation
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid mass itself acts as a flexible, cohesive medium that maintains jet integrity better than rigid rod-shaped charges. The fluid's surface tension and viscosity provide natural cohesion, preventing droplet particulation while allowing the charge geometry to be simplified for manufacturing. The flexible nature of the fluid container allows for easier manufacturing while maintaining jet coherence.
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 twice the explosive load of comparable commercial disrupters without causing shock initiation, achieving improved penetration and disruption efficiency while maintaining jet integrity and reducing forward velocity gradients, thus effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The explosives are rectangular prisms or right angle cylinders and oriented so that the flat face of the cylinder it abutting the water. The detonator is positioned coaxially down the center of the charge. The explosive detonation wave shock couples at the water interface producing an approximate planar shock front that travels into the water surrounding the hollow cavity causing the water to collapse into the void and jet forward.
Implementation Method 2
High pressure regions are due to a Mach-stem effect which are formed by collisions of shocks, usually along a central axis or plane.
Implementation Method 3
The explosive detonation wave shock couples at the water interface producing an approximate planar shock front that travels into the water surrounding the hollow cavity causing the water to collapse into the void and jet forward.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are shaped charges for focusing a fluid mass and related methods of using the shaped charges for disruption of an explosive target with a spherical projectile. The shaped charge comprises a plastic shell having a special geometric shape configured to support a shape-conforming explosive. A cylindrical plastic body has an interior volume for containing a fluid and the plastic shell. The plastic body closed distal end has a geometric shape that is substantially matched to the shape of the plastic shell. Metal spherical projectiles having an outer layer of metal selected to have an effective density matched to the fluid provide advantageous target disruption capabilities.