Stepped Kinetic Penetrator Reactive Armor Mass Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing penetrators face challenges in effectively penetrating targets with reactive armor due to mass distribution issues, where attached elements increase weight loss, reducing the penetrator's ability to engage main targets.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece, solid penetrator with a smaller diameter front section designed to initiate explosive charges and break off at a predetermined point, allowing the rear section to maintain momentum and increase penetration depth, optimized for targets with reactive armor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If attached elements (penetrator tips, fin, sabot) are used to improve penetration performance, then penetration capability is improved, but mass is lost to attached elements reducing the mass available for penetrating the main target

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration capabilityVSAvoidmass available for main target penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The penetrator integrates the tip, fin, and main body into a single monolithic structure made of one piece. This eliminates the need for separate attached elements and their associated mass losses, while still providing the necessary penetration functionality through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The penetrator is designed with a stepped profile dividing the body into a front section and rear section. The front section with smaller diameter is optimized for initiating explosive charges in reactive armor, while the rear section with larger diameter maintains mass for penetrating the main target. The segmentation allows each section to serve its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Weight of moving object

If a large diameter is used throughout the penetrator to ensure sufficient mass for main target penetration, then penetration mass is sufficient, but the front section cannot effectively initiate explosive charges in reactive armor due to excessive mass and size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass for main target penetrationVSAvoidability to initiate explosive charges in reactive armor

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The penetrator features a stepped profile with a front section of smaller diameter and a rear section of larger diameter. The front section's reduced diameter allows it to effectively initiate explosive charges in reactive armor without excessive mass, while the rear section maintains sufficient diameter and mass for penetrating the main target. Each section has locally optimized dimensions for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If the penetrator is designed as a monolithic one-piece structure, then mass loss to attached elements is eliminated, but the structure must be designed to break off at a predetermined point to maintain effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass conservationVSAvoidpredetermined breaking point design

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monolithic penetrator incorporates a predetermined breaking point that divides the structure into a breakable front section and a retainable rear section. This segmentation is built into the single-piece construction, allowing the front section to break off after initiating explosive charges while the rear section continues to penetrate the main target. The breaking point is designed into the monolithic structure rather than requiring separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enhances terminal ballistic performance by conserving mass for the rear section, enabling deeper penetration and reducing deflection, thus effectively targeting armored vehicles with reactive armor.

Implementation Method 1

When combating a target with a reactive pre-module, the front part of the main body serves only to initiate the explosive charges of the pre-module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact initiation of explosive charges: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

sub-caliber kinetic energy projectile

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy penetration: Conservation of Momentum

Implementation Method 3

The aim is for the rear part of the main body to develop the greatest possible penetration in the main target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3742106B1Penetrator, use of a penetrator and projectile

Publication Date: 2023.05.10 RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH

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AI summary

Penetrator (1) for a projectile with a fin, in particular a sub-caliber kinetic energy penetrator, comprising a one-piece solid main body (10) with a projectile tip (11), wherein the main body (10) comprises a front and a rear substantially cylindrical part (12, 14). The front substantially cylindrical part (12) adjoins the projectile tip (11), wherein the rear substantially cylindrical part (14) has a diameter (D) that is larger than the diameter (d) of the front substantially cylindrical part (14).