Spinning self-forging fragments and shaped charges
Chris Weickert · 1986
This thesis is concerned with the application of fluted-liner technology to spinning self-forging fragments and shaped charges. Historically, shaped charge fluted liner research consisted of experimental parametric studies. The actual mechanism of spin compensation was not understood. Numerical results from the current research on the collapse of fluted shaped charge liners show that the explosive gases rotate in one direction but the jet and slug rotate opposite to each other with the net result being opposite to that of the explosive gases. Numerical calculations were used to predict the variation of angular momentum of the shaped-charge liner with the number of flutes and with the index angle. As the number of flutes is increased, the direction of rotation of the jet changes from clockwise to counter-clockwise. The reversals in spin direction from experiments are duplicated by the numerical results. Results from an experimental investigation of a spinning self-forging fragment have demonstrated for the first time that a spinning cohesive fragment could be formed with a backward-folding liner design at an SFF charge spin rate of 2500 RPM.