Experimental Study of Penetration Capability of an Annular-Shaped Charge under Multipoint Synchronous Initiation

Abstract

The large-distance penetration capability of an annular-shaped charge under multipoint synchronous initiation was experimentally investigated. For different annular charge structures and different multipoint initiation settings, incident angle, collision type of detonation waves, and overpressure on the shaped charge’s liner at adjacent initiation points were analyzed using the detonation wave propagation theory. Furthermore, the shaped charge’s penetration capability at a standoff distance of 1–15 m from a 20 mm thick 45# steel plate (the target) was determined through penetration experiments. It was found that the annular cutter formed by the 500 mm diameter annular shaped charge (charge width: 100 mm) completely penetrated the target for a large distance, namely a distance of 150 times the charge width. The ratio of the width of the ring gap penetrated by the annular cutter to the liner’s initial radial width was about 1.07; this indicated that the annular cutter’s width was equivalent to the liner’s radial width for the above flight distance, which in turn implied that the annular cutter had superior circular degree. The annular cutter formed in the case of Mach reflection had better circular degree, integrity, and penetration capability than that formed by regular reflection.