FEM Simulation of HE Blast-Fragmentation Warhead and the Calculation of Lethal Range
This paper presents the simulation of fragmentation
warhead using a hydrocode, Autodyn. The goal of this research is to
determine the lethal range of such a warhead. This study investigates
the lethal range of warheads with and without steel balls as
preformed fragments. The results from the FE simulation, i.e. initial
velocities and ejected spray angles of fragments, are further processed
using an analytical approach so as to determine a fragment hit density
and probability of kill of a modelled warhead. In order to simulate a
plenty of preformed fragments inside a warhead, the model requires
expensive computation resources. Therefore, this study attempts to
model the problem in an alternative approach by considering an
equivalent mass of preformed fragments to the mass of warhead
casing. This approach yields approximately 7% and 20% difference
of fragment velocities from the analytical results for one and two
layers of preformed fragments, respectively. The lethal ranges of the
simulated warheads are 42.6 m and 56.5 m for warheads with one and
two layers of preformed fragments, respectively, compared to 13.85
m for a warhead without preformed fragment. These lethal ranges are
based on the requirement of fragment hit density. The lethal ranges
which are based on the probability of kill are 27.5 m, 61 m and 70 m
for warheads with no preformed fragment, one and two layers of
preformed fragments, respectively.
[1] Y. Charron, "Estimation of velocity distribution of fragmenting warheads
using a modified Gurney method," Air Force Institute of Technology,
1979.
[2] "Elements of terminal Ballistics, Part One, Introduction, Kill Mechenics
and Vulnerability," in Washington, D.C., 1962, pp. 4-175.
[3] N. F. Mott, "Fragmentation of high explosive shells, A theoretical formula
for the distribution of weights of fragments," 1943.
[4] "AAAV 30 mm HE lethality testing, Test procedures and casualty
models," NAVSEA, Dahlgren.
[5] Federation of American Scientists (FAS). "Introduction to Naval Weapons
Engineering, Damage Criterion", http://www.fas.org/man/dod-
101/navy/docs/es310/dam_crit/dam_crit.htm.
[1] Y. Charron, "Estimation of velocity distribution of fragmenting warheads
using a modified Gurney method," Air Force Institute of Technology,
1979.
[2] "Elements of terminal Ballistics, Part One, Introduction, Kill Mechenics
and Vulnerability," in Washington, D.C., 1962, pp. 4-175.
[3] N. F. Mott, "Fragmentation of high explosive shells, A theoretical formula
for the distribution of weights of fragments," 1943.
[4] "AAAV 30 mm HE lethality testing, Test procedures and casualty
models," NAVSEA, Dahlgren.
[5] Federation of American Scientists (FAS). "Introduction to Naval Weapons
Engineering, Damage Criterion", http://www.fas.org/man/dod-
101/navy/docs/es310/dam_crit/dam_crit.htm.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:55973", author = "G. Tanapornraweekit and W. Kulsirikasem", title = "FEM Simulation of HE Blast-Fragmentation Warhead and the Calculation of Lethal Range", abstract = "This paper presents the simulation of fragmentation
warhead using a hydrocode, Autodyn. The goal of this research is to
determine the lethal range of such a warhead. This study investigates
the lethal range of warheads with and without steel balls as
preformed fragments. The results from the FE simulation, i.e. initial
velocities and ejected spray angles of fragments, are further processed
using an analytical approach so as to determine a fragment hit density
and probability of kill of a modelled warhead. In order to simulate a
plenty of preformed fragments inside a warhead, the model requires
expensive computation resources. Therefore, this study attempts to
model the problem in an alternative approach by considering an
equivalent mass of preformed fragments to the mass of warhead
casing. This approach yields approximately 7% and 20% difference
of fragment velocities from the analytical results for one and two
layers of preformed fragments, respectively. The lethal ranges of the
simulated warheads are 42.6 m and 56.5 m for warheads with one and
two layers of preformed fragments, respectively, compared to 13.85
m for a warhead without preformed fragment. These lethal ranges are
based on the requirement of fragment hit density. The lethal ranges
which are based on the probability of kill are 27.5 m, 61 m and 70 m
for warheads with no preformed fragment, one and two layers of
preformed fragments, respectively.", keywords = "Lethal Range, Natural Fragment, Preformed
Fragment, Warhead.", volume = "6", number = "6", pages = "1077-5", }