The role of tangential velocity in explosive initiation by fragment impact

Abstract

An initiation study is presented in which we examine the effect of the normal and the tangential velocity components of a fragment that impacts a covered and a bare Comp-B explosive. The study is based on calibrated numerical Lagrangian simulations using the LS-Dyna hydrocode. A special procedure was developed to present the estimated initiation point and the shock wave transition into detonation for various impact angles. The influence of the fragment strength and the steel cover thickness on the detonation threshold were also examined. The velocity threshold results are presented and used to modify the Jacobs-Roslund initiation model.

Keywords

• High explosive initiation
• Lee-tarver
• Jacobs-roslund
• Fragment