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Shaped Charge Jet Interaction with Highly

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Article in Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics October 1993

DOI: 10.1002/prep.19930180508

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Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18, 275-281 (1993)
Shaped Charge Jet Interaction with Highly Effective Passive
Sandwich Systems - Experiments and Analysis
K. Thoma, D. Vinckier, and J. Kiermeir
CONDAT GmbH, D-85298 Fernhag (Germany)
U. Deisenroth
lngenieurburo Deisenroth (IBD), D-53797 Lohmar (Germany)
W. Fucke
Battelle Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, D-60486 Frankfurt (Germany)
Dedicated to Professor Dr. Manfred Held on the Occasion of his 60th Birthday
Wechselwirkung des Hohlladungsstachels rnit hochwirksamen
passiven Sandwich-Systemen - Experimente und Analysen
Die Erforschung und Entwicklung reaktiver Sandwich-Ziele und
ihre Wechselwirkung mit Hohlladungsstacheln ist eines der zahlrei-
chen Forschungsgebiete, wo Manfred Held wesentliche Beitrlge lei-
stete. Die reaktiven Sandwich-Ziele besitzen eine aufierordentlich
hohe Schutzwirkung gegen Hohlladungsstachel, haben jedoch einige
wesentliche Nachteile. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Wechsel-
wirkung des Stachels einer Hohlladung vom Kaliber 136 mm mit
einem Doppelsandwich-Ziel untersucht. Das einzelne Sandwich
besteht dabei aus zwei Stahlplatten und einer Zwischenschicht aus
inertem Material. Es wurden 10 Versuche mit identischer Geometrie
durchgefuhrt, lediglich das Material der Zwischenschicht wurde gean-
dert. Mit Hilfe von Rontgenblitzaufnahmen wurde die Wechselwir-
kung des Hohlladungsstachels mit dem Ziel untersucht. Die Auswer-
tung dieser Aufnahmen zusammen mit der gemessenen Restleistung
des Stachels hinter dem Ziel zeigen den deutlichen EinfluB des Zwi-
schenmaterials auf die Stachelstorungen. Die von dem eindringenden
Stachel erzeugten Deformationen und Bewegungen der Stahlplatten
werden auf den Rontgenblitzbildern sichtbar. Die Versuche zeigen,
daB der Hohlladungsstachel von dem verwendeten Zielaufbau nahezu
vollstsndig gestort werden kann.
Mit HiIfe einer Hydrocode-Berechnung wurde die Wechselwirkung
des Stachels mit den verwendeten Zielen analysiert. Die Rechnung
ermoglicht eine detaillierte Untersuchung der Entstehung der Stachel-
storungen, der Plattendeformation und der Plattenbewegung.
Summary
The development and investigation of reactive sandwich targets and
their interaction with shaped charge jets is one of the many research
areas, where important contributions were made by Manfred Held.
Such reactive sandwiches are known to be extremely effective against
jets, but have a number of disadvantages.
In this work, the interaction of the copper jet from a shaped charge
calibre 136 mm with a double sandwich system, each sandwich con-
sisting of a non-reacting layer between outer steel plates, is investigat-
ed. In 10 experiments with identical geometrical setup, only the mate-
rial of the non-reacting layer is changed. Using flash X-ray pictures,
the interaction of the jet with the sandwich system is investigated.
Evaluation of these pictures as well as the comparison of the measured
residual penetrations behind the sandwich target clearly demonstrate
the influence of the material of the inner sandwich layer. The de-
0VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, D-6945 1 Weinheim, 1993
Highly Effective Passive Sandwich Systems 2;
Interaction de jets de charges creuses avec des syst6mes de sand-
-
wichs passifs a haute ef'ficacite Experiences et analyses
LCtude et le dCveloppement de cibles reactives en sandwich et de
leur interaction avec des jets de charges cremes est I'un des nombreux
domaines de recherches auxquels Manfred Held a apportt d'importan-
tes contributions. Les cibles reactives en sandwich possbdent un pou-
voir protecteur extr2mement ClevC contre les jets de charges creuses,
mais prksentent toutefois de nombreux inconvCnients.
Dans le prCsent article, on Ctudie I'interaction dun jet de calibre 136
mm avec une cible en sandwich double. Chaque sandwich est com-
posC de deux plaques dacier et dune couche intermkdiaire en materiau
inerte. On a rCalisb 10 essais avec une gComCtrie identique en modifi-
ant uniquement le matCriau intermtdiaire. A l'aide de radiographies-
Cclairs, on a CtudiC I'interaction du jet de charge creuse avec la cible.
Le dtpouillement de ces clichCs ainsi que la mesure de la ptnCtration
residuelie du jet derribre la plaque montrent clairement l'influence du
matCriau intermkdiaire sur la destruction du jet. Les dCformations et
mouvements des plaques d'acier gCnCrCs par la pCnCtration du jet sont
visibles sur les radiographies-Cclairs. Les essais montrent que le jet de
charge creuse est pratiquement entikrement dCtruit par la configuration
de cible utilisCe. A l'aide dun calcul avec l'hydrocode, on a analyse
I'interaction du jet avec les cibles utilisCes. Le calcul permet une etude
dCtaillCe de la formation des perturbations du jet, de la dkformation et
du mouvement des plaques.
formation and movement of the steel plates, caused by the penetrating
jet, can be seen in the X-ray pictures. It is shown that it is possible to
distort a shaped charge jet so that its penetration capability behind the
target is reduced to a minimum.
A fully three-dimensional hydrocode simulation of the experiments
enabled the jetlsandwich interaction and steel plate deformation and
rupture to be studied in detail.
1. Introduction
Reactive sandwiches, essentially consisting of steel
plates with an inner high explosive layer, have shown to be
one of the most effective armour components against the
high velocity jets from shaped charges. The basic ideas for
072 1-3 115/93/0510-275 $3.50+.25/0
276 K. Thoma, D. Vinckier, J. Kiermeir, U. Deisenroth, W. Fucke Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18,275-281 (1 993)

this type of armour as well as for passive systems were 2. Experimental

described for example in patents from M.Held(1-5).The fun-
damental physical aspects of such systems, like initiation 2.1 Jet Properties
criteria for the explosive layer(6-8)and other aspects@)were
investigated and described by the same author in a series of For all tests, a shaped charge calibre 136 mm with a 60
publications. degree copper cone and wave shaping was used. The maxi-
The main application of these reactive sandwiches is in mum penetration of this charge is 950 mm in RHA at a
the field of add-on-armour. In this application, the neces- standoff of 6 calibre. The jet tip velocity is 8250 m/s. Fig-
sary space for the plate movement is available. Inherent to ure 1 gives the measured cumulated jet length against jet
these systems are the problems caused by the undesired velocity. Figure 2 shows the jet particle diameter as a func-
interaction of the flying plates with the main armour and tion of the velocity.
the environment.
This is one of the reasons for the development of sand-
0.8
wich systems which do not need explosive materials for
plate acceleration. If these systems can be designed such 0.7
that they possess an acceptable protection capability against z
shaped charge (S.C.) jets, they offer essential advantages
compared to high explosive systems. Because of a reduced
i
c 0.6

plate movement, they are not limited to add-on-armour, but

3
0.4
can be fully integrated in armour packages. Unwanted inter-
actions with the environment are very limited. Consisting B
O3
only of inert materials, the complete life cycle costs of these E, 0.2
sandwich systems are reduced dramatically compared to 0
0.1
sandwiches with explosive components.
A description of the underlying mechanisms of such
6 6 7 8 9
inert systems was presented for the first time in the open lit- Velocity Ikm/sl
erature by N.Gov, Y.Kivity and D.Yaziv(l0). The kinetic
energy of the jet is used to create a movement of the metal-
Figure 1. Measured cumulated jet length against jet velocity.
lic plates in the form of bulging. The inert interlayer
enhances the bulging by spreading the jet momentum ra-
dially. The plate movement during bulging then gives a
jet/plate interaction similar to explosive systems.
In the following we will describe a series of 10 experi-
ments, which investigated the interaction of the jet, pro-
duced by a shaped charge, calibre 136 mm, with an
arrangement of two passive sandwiches. Using flash-X-rays
at different times, the movement of the sandwich plates and
the disturbed jet behind the target could be seen. The resid-
ual penetration was measured with armour steel witness
plates behind the sandwich system.
A key point for the effectiveness of the sandwich system
is the type of material between the steel plates (the interlay-
er material). IBD has developed a range of plastic materials,
especially optimized for this application. Using 5 different
Velocity Ikmlsl
materials or material combinations in an identical experi-
mental setup, we can show the influence of this interlayer Figure 2. Measured jet particle diameter as a function of velocity.
material.
For single, reactive sandwiches a variety of analytical
models for the calculation of the plate velocities(ll.12) and 2.2 The Target Setup
their interaction with the flying plates exist('?-16). For
double sandwiches with passive interlayer materials, the sit- The target geometry was identical for all tests. The only
uation is much more complex because of the interaction of variation came from the type of interlayer material used.
the inner plates with each other and because of the plate This material was always the same for both sandwiches.
deformation and rupture. As simple descriptions are not The steel target plates had the dimensions 310 mm x 170
existing, we modelled the jet interaction with the sandwich mm with a thickness of 10.5 mm. The material was RHA
system using a three-dimensional Lagrangian hydrocode(17). with a yield strength of 1200 N/mm2. The interlayer materi-
The calculation goes from the time of first jet contact with al had a thickness in the range 7-8 mm. The steel plates of
the target to the time when the flight of the perturbed jet each package were bolted together by 4 steel bolts. The air
behind the target has been determined. gap between the 2 sandwiches was 30 mm. The angle
Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18, 275-28 1 (1993) Highly Effective Passive Sandwich Systems 277

between the normal to the target layers and the shot axis
was 65 degrees. A sketch of the geometry is given in Fig. 3.
The shaped charge was positioned at a standoff of 2 cali-
bres to the target.

Figure 4. Photo of the shaped charge and the double sandwich system
before a shot. The standoff is 2 caliber.

materials, developed by IBD for applications as sandwich

interlayer material. For each material, two tests were done.
Table 1 gives an overview of the tests.
Figure 3. Sketch of the geometry of the double sandwich system with
indicated shot axis. Table 1: Overview of the Tests

2.3 Measurements: Flash-X-Rays and Residual Penetration

la 1 6110 22
Figure 4 shows a photo of the experimental setup with Ib 1 5180 15
the shaped charge, the sandwich system and the film cas-
sette. A first trigger at the base of the S.C. is used to start 2a 2 6170 24
the measuring sequence. A copper foil in a given distance 2b 2 5960 14
behind the target, triggered by the first jet particle leaving 3a 3 6090 41
the target, starts the flash-X-ray picture. 3b 3 5250 81

2.4 Experimental Results 4a 4 (Elastomer) 5820 107

4b 4 (Elastomer) 5500 70

A series of 10 tests with an identical geometrical setup 5a 5 (FRP) - 57

was done. The only variation was in the type of interlayer 5b 5 (FRP) 5050 62
material. Five different materials were used, which will be
Notations:
designated in the following with numbers 1 to 5. Reference Vies: Measured velocity of the fastest jet particle behind the sandwich
materials were an elastomer (no.4) and an FRP (fiber rein- system
forced plastics, no.5). The materials 1 to 3 are optimized PES:Measured residual jet penetration in the witness plate

Figure 5. X-Ray pictures from shots 3a, 3b with interlayer material 3 at the times 99.0 ps and 194.7 ps (the jet tip impacts the target at t = 0).
The shot axis is from left to right. The small part of the jet which could pass the target can be seen.
278 K. Thoma, D. Vinckier, J. Kiermeir, U. Deisenroth, W. Fucke Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18, 275-28 1 ( 1993)

There is an essential scatter in data measured behind the

target (residual velocity and residual penetration). caused
by variations of the jet tip properties. Nevertheless the
influence of the interlayer material is clearly visible.
Whereas for materials 1 and 2 practically only some jet
debris comes out of the target, for the other materials some
penetration capability behind the target exists. Obviously,
the protection level provided by the sandwich can be
increased by tuning of the interlayer material.
Figure 5 with X-ray pictures from shots 3a and 3b (iden-
tical interlayer material, two different picture times) show
the deformed target plates at the times 99.0 ps and
194.7 ps. Some disturbed and a range of still aligned jet
particles can be seen immediately behind the last sandwich.
Figure 6 shows the status of the target from shots lb, 2b
3b, 5b at the early X-ray time (approximately 100 ps after
target impact) and the residual, distorted jet behind the tar-
get.
Figure 7 gives an overview of the target status from
shots 3a and 4a at the late X-ray time (approximately 200
ps after target impact) together with the complete jet
behind the target.
A photograph of the sandwich steel plates after the test
(Figure 8) shows the typical penetration holes and plate
fractures, as it could be observed for all tests. Note the two
separate holes appearing always on plate 1 and the typical Figure 6. X-Ray pictures from shots Ib, 2b, 3b, 5b at approximately
cutting holes in other plates, caused by the movement of the t = 100 ps with the residual jet behind the target (shot axis from left to
right).
plates into the jet path. Even the fracturing of the plates is
quite reproducible.
themselves and the bolts with the steel plates were done in
one run without manual intervention.
3. Computations The jet properties at the first target contact (time t=O)
were computed with the analytical shaped charge code from
3.1 Computational Setup Condat. This calculated mass and velocity distribution was
smoothed and approximated by a copper cylinder with
The complete sequence of the jet interaction with the varying diameter and a nonlinear velocity gradient, so that
sandwich system was modelled in a three-dimensional the jet could stretch during target penetration. The copper
hydrocode simulation. A special feature of the code used is material was described by an elastic-plastic material law.
an elaborate contact algorithm with eroding surfaces and The complicated distributions of stresses, strains and en-
tracking of free nodes with eroded masses. In fact, the com- ergy, caused by the jet formation process were neglected.
plete calculation with the complicated interactions between The sandwiches were modelled with the geometry as
jet, steel piates, interlayer materials, the two sandwiches described in Figure 3. The steel plates were described by a

Figure 7. Comparison of the jets behind the target for interlayer materials 3 and 4 (time approximately t = 200 ps after target impact).
Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics f8, 275-28 1 (1993) Highly Effective Passive Sandwich Systems 279

Figure 8. Photographs of steel plates after the shot with the typical holes and plate fractures. Shown are front plate (marked E) and back plate
(marked A) from the first sandwich (upper row) and the second sandwich (lower row). Results from shot 2a are on the left, from shot 4a on the
right

standard elastic-plastic material law with strain hardening, a

failure strain and a shock equation of state. The interlayer
material was modelled with ideal elastic-plastic strength
behaviour and a Mie-Gruneisen equation of state with pres-
sure dependent Griineisen y.
The whole setup was described in half symmetry. In
total the model consisted of 55200 volume elements. The
calculations were run up to a time of 120 ps with about
130000 computing cycles.
The goals of the computational effort were to derive a
basic understanding of the interaction process between the
jet and the passive double sandwich system and to describe
the interactions of the two inner sandwich plates with each
other. It was not intended to model or even predict the
residual penetration capability of the jet after having passed
the double sandwich.

3.2 Cornpututional Results

Figure 9 shows a comparison of the calculated and Figure 9. Comparison of the measured and calculated status of jet and
measured target deformations and jet perturbations, seen target at approximately 100 ps after target impact of the jet tip.
280 K. Thoma, D. Vinckier, J. Kiermeir, U. Deisenroth, W. Fucke
from the same view point at the same time (app. 100 p).It
is clearly demonstrated that the calculation gives the typical
jet distortion. The deformation of the target for rear plates 2
and 4 can be reproduced in detail, whereas for the front
plates 1 and 3 the calculation underpredicts the displace-
ments of the plates. The fastest jet particle behind the target
is experimentally in the range 5900-6200 m/s, the calcula-
tion has the fastest particles in the velocity interval 5500-
5750 m/s. Thus the calculation slightly over- predicts target
effectiveness, probably caused by the material data for the
steel plates, which we had to estimate for the calculation.
The essential point is that the computation is able to
describe the plate deformation and plate movement as well
as the jet distortion within this complex target. This proves
that the physics within the sandwich (the interaction of the
jet with interlayer material and the plates, the function of
the interlayer material and the plate movement) is modelled
correctly, although no data about the high pressure behavi-
our of the interlayer material were available.
The computation shows clearly and in detail the interac-
tion of the stretching jet with the two sandwich packages,
the evolution of the jet disturbances, the interaction of the
two inner sandwich plates and the plate deformations.
4. Analysis and Discussion
The measured residual penetrations demonstrate that
with our target arrangement an effective degradation of a
shaped charge jet can be attained. From Figure 5 , which
shows the same target setup at two different times (from
two different shots), the plate deformation and movement
with time can be deduced. The strong interaction of the
bulging target plates with the jet results in the elongated
holes typical for the jet interaction with moving plates (see
Figure 8). As an example in Figure 6 (early X-ray time)
one can clearly see the interaction of the jet with the upper
Figure 10. Calculated interaction of the shaped charge jet with the double sandwich system. Shown is a cut through the middle plane of the com-
plete setup at 4 times (20,50, 80, 120 microseconds).
Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18,275281 (1993)
edge of the crater hole in the last sandwich plate (cutting
effect).
Using the X-ray pictures, the measured residual penetra-
tions can be explained. Figure 7 shows in comparison the
compIete jet behind the target for shot 3a with a residual
penetration of 41 mm and for shot 4a with a residual pene-
tration of 107 mm. Obviously only a small jet interval,
approximately in the velocity range 6000 m/s to 5000 m/s
could pass the target. These particles are distorted and have
deflections from the shot axis. Jet particles with velocities
above or below this interval are practically non-existent.
The penetration capability of the remaining jet behind the
target depends on the degree of perturbation of this velocity
interval.
This observation that a possible residual penetration is
caused by a small jet velocity interval which could pass the
target, is confirmed by the X-ray pictures from other shots,
too. In Figure 6 for example, a comparison between shot 1b
(upper picture in Figure 6) with a residual penetration capa-
bility of 15 mm and shot 3b (3rd picture in Figure 6) with a
residual penetration of 8 1 mm can be made. For both shots,
the same jet velocity interval behind the target is shown. All
particles on shot 1 b have a severe deviation from the shot
axis, the residual penetration of 15 mm is caused by jet
debris, whereas for shot 3b there is a jet interval of aligned
particles. The degree of jet distortion within the velocity
interval which passes the target can be controlled by the
type of interlayer material.
Note that essential jet deviations from the shot axis exist
already directly behind the target (range 0 to 300 mm).
To achieve an essential off-axis deviation, no long flight
path is necessary. The comparison of the pictures from shot
l b and shot 3b exemplifies the influence of the interlayer
material.
A time sequence of the computed jet interacting with the
target plates is given in Fig. 10. In these pictures, eroded
Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 18, 275-281 (1993)
masses are not shown, although they were included in the
calculation. A detailed analysis of the computation shows
that the strong jet distortion is based on two effects. These
are the jet interaction with the bulging plates (see e.g. the
distortion of the late jet part from plate 1 between 80 p and
120 ps) and the flow of jet and target debris within the
double sandwich system, hitting the jet.
Interesting to see is the prediction of the calculation that
the interlayer material will be quenched out of the sand-
wich. This effect can be detected in the X-ray-pictures, too.
In all front steel plates, two separate holes could be detected
after the shot (see Fig. 8), which was a very puzzling phe-
nomenon. The computation reproduces these two holes.
Thus it can be seen that this hole is not created by direct jet
penetration but by reflected copper debris, when the jet per-
forates the lower plate.
5. Conclusion
The X-ray pictures of the distorted jets as well as the
measured residual penetrations demonstrate that the effec-
tiveness of the double sandwich system can be influenced
by the interlayer material. Important to note is that .in addi-
tion the target can be further optimized by changes in the
plate geometry, a parameter which was not investigated in
the work presented here (different thicknesses of front and
back plates, air gap between the two sandwiches). Never-
theless, already the first system design shown here, gives a
very efficient protection against shaped charge jets. The
numerical simulation can reproduce all essential features of
the interaction processes within the target and thus can be
used to study these effects in detail.
6. References
(I) M. Held, Schutzeinrichtung gegen Geschosse, Deutsche
Patentschrift 2008 156.
(2) M. Held, A Structure for Protection Against Projectiles, GB
Patent 1581 125.
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Highly Effective Passive Sandwich Systems 28 1
(3) M. Held, Disposition de protection contre projectiles ou corps
analogues, French patent 7408536.
(4) M. Held, Protective Arrangement Against Projectiles, Particu-
larly Hollow Explosive Projectiles, US Patent 4368660.
(5) M. Held, Schutzanordnung gegen Geschosse, insbesondere
Hohlladungsgeschosse , Deutsche Patentschrift 2358227, 1973.
(6) M. Held, Critical Area for the Initiation of High Explosive
Charges, in: Shock Waves in Condensed Matter, Elsevier
Science Publishers, 1984.
M. Held? Analysis of the Shaped Charge Jet Induced Reaction
(7)
of High Explosives, Propellants, Explos., Pyrotech. 14, 245-
249 (1989).
(8) M. Held, Initiation Phenomena with Shaped Charge Jets, 9th
Int. Symp. on Detonation, Portland, 1989.
(9) M. Held, W. Schwartz, The Importance of Jet Tip Velocity for
the Performance of Shaped Charges Against Explosive Reactive
Armor, paper submitted to Propellants, Explos., Pyrotech.
(10) N. Gov, Y. Kivity, D. Yaziv, On the Interaction of a Shaped
Charge Jet with a Rubber Filled Metallic Casette, 13th fnt.
Symp. on Ballistics, Stockholm 1992.
(1 1) W. Fucke, 3. Bol, St. Schumann, Velocity of Sandwich Plates
Driven by Thin H.E. Layers, fOth Int. Symp. on Ballistics, San
Diego 1987.
(12) M. Ehrlich, M.W. van Moppes, The Motion of Explosively
Driven Plates, 1 lth Int. Symp. on Ballistics, 1989.
(13) J. Brown, D. Finch, The Shaped Charge Jet Attack of Confined
and Unconfined Sheet Explosive at Normal Incidence, 1 lth Int.
Symp. on Ballistics, 1989.
(14) HLCON, the family of CONDAT shaped charge codes.
(15) J. Backofen, BRIGS code, BRIGS company.
(16) J.S. Nicholson, M.C. Rogers, R.J. Cox, G. Merrit, The Use of
an Analytical Shaped Charge Jet and Target Response Model to
Predict the Efficiency of Jet Disruption by Single and Multiple
Explosive Armor Targets, 9th Int. Synzp. on Ballistics, 1989.
(17) C-DYNA3D, CONDAT in-house development, based on
DYNA3D, with new features, e.g. efficient new contact algo-
rithm.
Acknowledgement
The authors want to thank the pioneer in the field of shaped charge
jet/target interaction, Prof. Dr. Manfred Held for the continuous, fruit-
ful discussions and the exchange of ideas we had over so many years.
(Received June 15, 1993; Ms S 52/93)