Author(s)

V. M. Gold, E. L. Baker & J. M. Pincay

Abstract

A combined analytical and experimental technique for determining explosive fragmentation ammunition safe separation distance and lethality without costly arena fragmentation tests is presented. The new methodology integrates high-strain high-strain-rate computer modelling with semi-empirical analytical fragmentation modelling and experimentation, offering warhead designers and ammunition developers more ammunition performance information for less money spent. The new method provides more detailed and accurate warhead fragmentation data for ammunition safe separation distance analysis, as compared to the traditional fragmentation arena testing approach. Keywords: fragmentation modelling, fragmentation arena test, lethality, safety separation distance. 1 Introduction This paper reports on a combined analytical and experimental technique for determining explosive fragmentation ammunition safe separation distances and lethality without costly arena fragmentation tests, offering warhead designers and ammunition developers more ammunition performance information for less money spent. Since the main objective of the developed procedure is to simulate the \“data output” (i.e. warhead fragmentation performance information) from traditional fragmentation arena tests, a brief description of the fragmentation arena test methodology is given for completeness.

Keywords

fragmentation modelling, fragmentation arena test, lethality, safety separation distance.