Controlled-Fragmentation Warhead With Surface-Contact Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warheads struggle to achieve a bimodal effect against both semi-hard and soft targets while maintaining structural integrity during transport and firing.
Innovation Solution
A warhead design featuring preformed elements arranged with a surface contact against an inner shell, filled with a low-density filler material, and an inner shell with systematically arranged cupped recesses to control fragmentation, ensuring controlled fragmentation and high acceleration of elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If preformed elements are arranged in a warhead with gap contact against the inner shell, then the warhead can maintain structural integrity during transport, but the acceleration of elements upon detonation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inner shell is designed with cupped recesses that create surface contact with preformed elements, forming a flexible yet supportive interface. This allows the structure to maintain integrity during transport while providing optimal contact for element acceleration during detonation
Solution Approach 2:
The contact interface between the inner shell and preformed elements is changed from gap contact to surface contact through the cupped recess design. This parameter change optimizes both the structural integrity during transport and the acceleration efficiency upon detonation
2Adaptability or versatility
If a warhead is designed for controlled fragmentation, then the fragmentation pattern is predictable and controllable, but the adaptability against different target types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The warhead employs two distinct fragmentation mechanisms: preformed elements for penetration against hard targets and controlled casing fragmentation for soft targets. This segmentation allows the warhead to deliver bimodal effects against different target types without requiring multiple separate warhead designs
Solution Approach 2:
The warhead structure is designed to perform multiple functions: the inner shell with cupped recesses accelerates preformed elements for hard target penetration, while the outer casing is designed for controlled fragmentation to address soft targets. This multi-functionality achieves versatility against different target types within a single unified design
3Manufacturing precision
If preformed elements are arranged with surface contact against the inner shell, then the acceleration and penetration effect is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cupped recesses in the inner shell are pre-formed during manufacturing to provide the optimal contact surface geometry. This preliminary action ensures that when preformed elements are placed in the recesses, they achieve the desired surface contact configuration without requiring post-assembly adjustments or highly precise manual positioning
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 design achieves effective penetration against both semi-hard and soft targets with controlled fragmentation, maintaining structural strength and compatibility with existing weapon systems.
Implementation Method 1
the inner shell is arranged for a controlled fragmentation upon a detonation of the explosive substance
Implementation Method 2
filled with a low-density filler material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A warhead (1) comprises an outer casing (8) and an inner shell (7), which delimits a central space (5,6) for an explosive substance. The inner shell (7) receives a series of preformed elements (9), which are arranged in contact with the outer side of the inner shell (7). The inner shell (7) is arranged for a controlled fragmentation upon a detonation of the explosive substance. The preformed elements (9) are arranged with a surface contact against the inner shell (7).