Impact-Induced Jet Formation: Design Analysis

Many applications are concerned with the response of systems under hypervelocity impact by shaped charge jets (SCJs). Conventional ballistic test techniques using rod-like projectiles suffer from difficulties in launching intact projectiles >4 km/s such that straight, low attack angle impacts are achieved in a repeatable manner. Furthermore, rod and other launched projectiles are not representative of the stretching jet penetrators formed by high explosives. This motivated the present work in developing an impact-induced jet formation technique to enable more realistic laboratory testing of shaped charge jet interactions without the use of explosives and associated complications. Hydrocode modeling was used to explore the feasibility and capability of such an approach. A proposed gas-gun setup was designed and fielded based upon these modeling results. The design work is validated with experimental data from demonstration testing of this new terminal ballistics test capability.