Fragmentation Warhead Pattern Shaper for Controlled Lethality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fragmentation warheads currently cause collateral damage due to the wide dispersal of metal fragments beyond the intended target area, resulting in reduced lethality and increased risk of harm to unintended targets.
Innovation Solution
The warhead case is made of a material that pulverizes upon detonation, and a pattern shaper is used between the fragment assembly and the explosive to shape the pressure wave, ensuring metal fragments are expelled with a uniform density over a prescribed solid angle, reducing collateral damage and enhancing lethality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a steel case is used to confine and redirect radial energy to propel metal fragments forward, then the lethality radius is increased to 25-50 meters, but the fragments are expelled in a wide cone pattern that causes collateral damage outside the desired target area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the fragmentation assembly. The central region expels fragments at higher velocities for maximum lethality, while peripheral regions are controlled to reduce tail fragments. The pattern shaper creates local variations in fragment density and velocity distribution to concentrate lethal effects on target while minimizing collateral damage in surrounding areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of fragment expulsion by using a pattern shaper that modifies the velocity distribution and angular spread of fragments. By controlling the expansion geometry and material properties, the system achieves a more uniform fragment density over a prescribed solid angle, reducing the wide cone pattern and its associated collateral damage while maintaining the 25-50 meter lethality radius.
2Reliability
If the warhead expels fragments in a forward cone to maximize lethality on target, then the fragment density is maximum near zero degrees, but the tails extend well beyond the desired cone causing collateral damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fragmentation pattern into distinct zones: a core region with high fragment density for maximum lethality, intermediate regions with controlled density, and peripheral regions with minimized fragment tails. This segmentation is achieved through the pattern shaper geometry and material distribution, creating a multi-zone expulsion pattern that concentrates effects on target while reducing collateral damage in tail regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of accepting the natural wide cone dispersion pattern with extended tails, the patent inverts the approach by using a pattern shaper to actively control and limit the angular spread. The design prioritizes uniform density over a prescribed solid angle rather than maximum concentration at zero degrees, effectively inverting the traditional optimization goal to reduce collateral damage while maintaining lethality.
3Ease of manufacture
If scored metal is used in the fragmentation assembly, then about 80% mass efficiency is achieved, but individual fragments are required to approach 100% mass efficiency for optimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The pattern shaper acts as an intermediary between the scored metal fragmentation assembly and the explosive force. It modifies the pressure wave propagation to compensate for the lower mass efficiency of scored metal, optimizing fragment expulsion patterns and velocities to achieve desired lethality and pattern uniformity without requiring 100% mass efficiency from the fragment material itself.
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 achieves a high-lethality, low-collateral-damage outcome by confining fragments within a narrower radius, improving the effectiveness of the warhead while minimizing harm to non-target areas.
Implementation Method 1
The explosive and pattern shaper have a conformal non-planar interface that shapes the front of the pressure wave as it propagates there through to expel metal fragments from the fragmentation assembly
Implementation Method 2
forming the case of a material that is pulverized upon detonation of the explosive
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a high-lethality low collateral damage fragmentation warhead. The case is formed of a material that is pulverized upon detonation of the explosive. As a result, the lethality radius of the pulverized case fragments is no greater than that of the gas blast, thus reducing potential collateral damage. Warhead lethality is improved by placing a pattern shaper between the fragment assembly and the explosive. The explosive and pattern shaper have a conformal non-planar interface that shapes the pressure wavefront as it propagates there through to expel metal fragments from the fragmentation assembly with a desired pattern density over a prescribed solid angle.