SBIR-STTR Award

Shaped charge warheads using reactive-metal liners have potential for increased lethality. Reactive-metal liners are limited by low ductility, material incompatibilities, and poor penetration. Current designs for explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) lack significant capability for behind armor effects. Tech Energetics, Inc. (TEI) will develop metallurgically bonded, multi-layered shaped charge and EFP liners. The collapse of shaped charge liners will produce jets of reactive metals, jacketed by high penetrating jets; alternative designs will use a penetrating jet followed by a reactive material injection. Enhanced penetration EFPs will be designed with shear surfaces of reactive material, self-sharpening analogous to depleted uranium penetrators will be possible. Heat from shearing will initiate behind armor effects. The Phase I effort will develop a list of candidates for the reactive constituent of the proposed liners. Concept designs for the liners will be developed together with manufacturing methods. A prototype liner coupon and results of mechanical testing will be delivered. Feasibility of integration will be investigated; economic and performance benefits will be identified. The principal investigator previously developed techniques for explosively cladding gun barrels and utilized this technology in designs for lightweight mortar tubes. TEI has the resources for conducting the proposed development effort

Shaped charge warheads using reactive-metal liners have potential for increased lethality. Reactive-metal liners are limited by low ductility and poor penetration. In a Phase I program, Tech Energetics, Inc. (TEI) developed concepts for conical shaped charge liners and explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) that should inject reactive metal constituents. By metallurgically bonding metals that are good penetrators with reactive metals, liners could be manufactured to form jets which are composites of the respective metals or sequential elements. Candidate reactive metals were selected by considering reaction feasibility, spontaneity, and potential for confined volume pressurization. Production methods were identified. A test plan was developed for quantifying the concepts' performance and function. TEI successfully demonstrated prototype production of cylindrically imploded metal composites that could be used for either conical shaped charge liners or EFPs. In a Phase II program TEI proposes to fabricate shaped charge liners, load evaluation charges, and test the function of the concepts. Comparisons will be made to a baseline design. Engineering guidelines will be identified and applied to the development of an optimized design. TEI is augmenting its capabilities with D.R. Kennedy and Associates, Inc. for design and evaluation, and Denver Research Institute for specialized testing. Benefit The DoD will obtain shaped charge liners that inject reactive materials. The Phase II will demonstrate the function of the liners, provide estimates of potential performance advantages, identify requirements for manufacturing, and deliver an optimized design. Warhead engineering, in conjunction with the manufacturing and engineering of the composite metal laminates, will provide the DoD with additional weapon capabilities. The engineering methods developed under this SBIR will add design dimensions to shaped charge and EFP liners. Keywords Reactive Metals , Explosive Cladding/Welding , Shaped Charge Liners , Metallurgical Thermodynamics, Behind Armor Effects