Experimental and numerical studies of fragmentation shells filled with advanced HMX-plastic explosive compared to various explosive charges

Abstract The wide usage of TNT as a main charge for fragmentation shells has been eliminated due to its lower performance and exudation on the fuze thread relevant safety measures inconvenience. These disadvantages have not become accepted anymore desired requirements limited efficiency TNT, especially when different new explosives are introduced into researches. This research studies calculations 120 mm high explosive shell is loaded with rather than TNT. Different used in current include melt cast compositions such Octol composition B, cured based RDX HTPB polymer matrix plastic HMX-silicone. fingerprint pattern each obtained using Autodyn smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) algorithm, whose numerical model validated previous measurements explosive. Based estimates, HMX-silicone proposed replace traditional material. then manufactured casted studied shell, where experimental field pit test was established collect, separate analyse resultant fragments. Current results showed that by produced highest velocities (i.e. 1.5 times TNT) largest number fragments 2.7 masses, which will be recommended our next production stages instead