The dispersion distribution characteristics of prefabricated fragments from an improvised explosive device (IED) are essential in defense technology development. To improve warhead design, it is essential to predict a fragment’s velocity and dispersion distribution accurately. This paper investigates a fragment’s flying angle from a detonated warhead with a cylindrical charge under a one-end central detonation. A modified formula for calculating the fragment dispersion distribution at each axial position of the warhead was obtained based on experimental data and model analysis. The impacts of the following parameters on the flying angle were considered in the formula: ratio of charge mass to shell mass, charge diameter, axial sparse effect, and relative axial shell position. The formula was verified by experimentation to be suitable for wide applications using different validation samples. Theoretical calculations with the formula show good accuracy in predicting the flying angle of cylindrical-shell fragments, agreeing with experimental data. The proposed model meets the error requirements of engineering applications. This work provides a theoretical foundation for subsequent research on damage effectiveness and IED damage assessment.

A ballistic projectile launching device was used to study the penetration behaviors of tungsten alloy spherical fragments of various diameters into carbon fiber composite target plates of different thicknesses. Based on the ballistic test results, we obtained the relationship between ultimate penetration velocity, target plate thickness, and fragment diameter as well as the relationship between the fragment penetration energy and fragment incident velocity. Using dimensional analysis, we obtained a formula relating the incident fragment velocity and the fragment penetration energy, which showed good agreement with the experimental values. We also analyzed the main fracture mode and the energy absorption mechanism of the carbon composite target plate under high-velocity impacts of tungsten alloy spheres and investigated the experimental damage modes of the target plate at different fragment velocities during the ballistic impact.

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The objective of this study was to study the penetration characteristics of tungsten alloy fragments on PCrNi3MoV target plates. Specifically, the penetration of square tungsten alloy fragments of gun steel target plates of different thicknesses were studied using a ballistic gun launching device. Based on the ballistic test results, the relationship between the bulge height of the target plate and the kinetic energy of the fragments was obtained, and the failure mode and process of the tungsten alloy fragments penetrating the steel target were analyzed. Then, the variation on the bulge height of the target plate with the kinetic energy of the fragments was obtained using dimensional analysis. The prediction results were consistent with the test results, and thus, the prediction model can be used in practical applications.

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