Demonstration of lightweight engineering solutions for a low-cost safe explosive ordnance destruct tool

Abstract

The continued development of a low-cost and safe method for neutralizing explosive threats is reported. The concept depends on the use of pure nitromethane in a totally encased lightweight plastic shaped charge, and the in situ injection of a minute quantity of diethylenetriamine just prior to employment. Penetration and impact initiation capabilities of a baseline charge, as well as function reliability were previously demonstrated. The jet from a previously developed brass encased baseline charge is fully characterized from flash radiography, and important technical issues relative to computational prediction are resolved. A new precision 42 degree lined charge is shown to outperform the baseline by as much as 6 to 74 percent over the standoff range studied. These improvements allowed for the incorporation of a Teflon body and a bi-material Teflon/copper liner in conformance with the goal of total encasement of the nitromethane. Relative differences in jetting characteristics and quantitative assessments of the penetration capability of the new design and small performance decrements resulting from the plastic substitutions are reported