Military Explosives Military Explosives and Warheadsand Warheads

Military Explosives Military Explosives and Warheadsand Warheads

ExplosionExplosionExplosionExplosion

DefinitionDefinition:: A reaction that produces a A reaction that produces a change in the state of matterchange in the state of matter that results that results in a in a rapid and violent release of energyrapid and violent release of energy..

Military warhead: Military warhead: Inflict damage on a Inflict damage on a target through the rapid transfer of target through the rapid transfer of energy from the warhead to the target.energy from the warhead to the target.

TypesTypes:: - Mechanical- Mechanical- Chemical- Chemical- Nuclear- Nuclear

ExplosiveExplosiveExplosiveExplosive

Definition: A material that can undergo a very Definition: A material that can undergo a very rapid, self propagating decomposition, resulting rapid, self propagating decomposition, resulting in:in:

a. Formation of more a. Formation of more stable materialsstable materials b. b. Liberation of heatLiberation of heat c. Development of a c. Development of a sudden pressure effectsudden pressure effect

Explosive “Yield”Explosive “Yield”

The amount of TNT to produce The amount of TNT to produce an equivalent blast (pressure) as an equivalent blast (pressure) as that of the explosive itself.that of the explosive itself.– Measured in poundsMeasured in pounds

TomahawkTomahawk– 1000lb bullpup warhead1000lb bullpup warhead– 1000lb of TNT to produce the same explosion1000lb of TNT to produce the same explosion– Warhead’s weight: 215lbWarhead’s weight: 215lb

Characteristics of Military Characteristics of Military ExplosivesExplosives

Availability & CostAvailability & Cost Sensitivity (impact, friction & heat)Sensitivity (impact, friction & heat) Stability (chemical constitution, sun, Stability (chemical constitution, sun,

temperature)temperature) Power (or performance)Power (or performance)

Characteristics of Military Characteristics of Military ExplosivesExplosives (cont.) (cont.)

BrisanceBrisance DensityDensity VolatilityVolatility HygroscopicityHygroscopicity ToxicityToxicity

Chemical Explosive Chemical Explosive ReactionReaction

For a chemical to be an explosive, it must For a chemical to be an explosive, it must exhibit all of the following:exhibit all of the following:

Chemical Explosive Chemical Explosive ReactionReaction

For a chemical to be an explosive, it must For a chemical to be an explosive, it must exhibit all of the following:exhibit all of the following:

Formation of Gases.Formation of Gases. Evolution of Heat.Evolution of Heat. Rapidity of Reaction.Rapidity of Reaction.

– ““Uncontrollable Chain Reaction”Uncontrollable Chain Reaction” Initiation of Reaction.Initiation of Reaction.

Categories of ExplosivesCategories of Explosives

Low ExplosivesLow Explosives– Normally employed as propellants.Normally employed as propellants.– Burn rapidly (up to 400 m/s).Burn rapidly (up to 400 m/s).

High ExplosivesHigh Explosives– Detonate (1000 - 8500 m/s).Detonate (1000 - 8500 m/s).– Differentiated by Sensitivity:Differentiated by Sensitivity:

Primary - Extremely sensitive to impact, Primary - Extremely sensitive to impact, friction & heat.friction & heat.

Secondary - Less sensitive. (May burn in Secondary - Less sensitive. (May burn in small, unconfined quantities; otherwise will small, unconfined quantities; otherwise will detonate.)detonate.)

Nuclear ExplosivesNuclear ExplosivesNuclear ExplosivesNuclear Explosives

• Atoms of heavy unstable isotopes are Atoms of heavy unstable isotopes are split by high speed neutrons.split by high speed neutrons.

• Split nucleus releases energy and more Split nucleus releases energy and more neutrons.neutrons.

• These neutrons go on to split more nuclei.These neutrons go on to split more nuclei.• Reaction also produces heat and Reaction also produces heat and

radiation.radiation.• Energy released is much greater than Energy released is much greater than

with chemical explosives (per weight of with chemical explosives (per weight of explosive).explosive).

Nuclear ExplosionsNuclear Explosions

Fusion Bomb

-Hydrogen

Fission Bomb

-Atomic

Grable – shot from atomic canon

Energy From a Nuclear Air Energy From a Nuclear Air BurstBurst

Energy From a Nuclear Air Energy From a Nuclear Air BurstBurst

Blast & Shock 50%

Thermal Radiation(Heat) 35%

5%

10%Residual NuclearRadiation

Initial Nuclear Radiation

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Wednesday: WarheadsWednesday: Warheads

Functional Parts of Simple Functional Parts of Simple WarheadWarhead

Functional Parts of Simple Functional Parts of Simple WarheadWarhead

Basic purpose of a warhead is to Basic purpose of a warhead is to deliver destructive power to the deliver destructive power to the intended target.intended target.

Basic warhead consists of:Basic warhead consists of:– FuzeFuze– Explosive FillExplosive Fill– Warhead CaseWarhead Case

All make up what is known as the All make up what is known as the “Explosive Train.”“Explosive Train.”

High Explosive TrainHigh Explosive TrainHigh Explosive TrainHigh Explosive Train

The explosive train is a series of The explosive train is a series of actions designed to make a stable actions designed to make a stable material unstable through a given material unstable through a given sequence.sequence.

Combination of High and Low Combination of High and Low explosives.explosives.

DETONATOR BOOSTERMAINCHARGE

Initiating ForceInitiating Force BANG!BANG!Aux. ExplosiveAux. Explosive

SensitivitylessMORE

Warhead EnergyWarhead Energy

Energy liberated in form ofEnergy liberated in form of– ThermalThermal– KineticKinetic– ChemicalChemical– NuclearNuclear

What are some by-products?What are some by-products?– Pressure or shock wavePressure or shock wave

Warhead Warhead CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Warhead Warhead CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Damage VolumeDamage Volume– Defines the destructive effectiveness of a Defines the destructive effectiveness of a

given payload.given payload. AttenuationAttenuation

– A function of distance from the origin of the A function of distance from the origin of the blast, as the blast travels outward, the blast, as the blast travels outward, the energy given off is dispersed over a greater energy given off is dispersed over a greater area.area.

PropagationPropagation– Manner in which the energy spreads.Manner in which the energy spreads.

(i.e. - Isotropic & Non-isotropic)(i.e. - Isotropic & Non-isotropic)

Blast WarheadsBlast WarheadsBlast WarheadsBlast Warheads

Designed to achieve target damage Designed to achieve target damage PRIMARILY from blast effectsPRIMARILY from blast effects

Initial blast produces heat and Initial blast produces heat and overpressure.overpressure.

Followed by a suction or Followed by a suction or underpressure.underpressure.

Push/Pull causes the intended target Push/Pull causes the intended target to explode from the pressure to explode from the pressure differential.differential.

Effect of blast waveEffect of blast wave

BLAST WAVE VIDEO

MORE BLAST WAVES

Blast Warheads Cont.Blast Warheads Cont.Blast Warheads Cont.Blast Warheads Cont. Two types of blast waves:Two types of blast waves:

– Isotropic Isotropic – Non-IsotropicNon-Isotropic

Mach Effect - A third wave Mach Effect - A third wave resulting from the reflected wave resulting from the reflected wave overtaking the original shock wave.overtaking the original shock wave.

Where the three waves combine is Where the three waves combine is called the “Triple Point.” called the “Triple Point.”

Triple Point can increase a blast Triple Point can increase a blast weapon’s effectiveness/radius weapon’s effectiveness/radius range.range.

Blast WaveBlast Wave

MACH EFFECT

Affect of an Underwater Blast

Explosion

Seismic ShockBottomReflection

Direct ShockSurface Reflection

Fragmentation WarheadsFragmentation WarheadsFragmentation WarheadsFragmentation Warheads

Blast energy is translated to the Blast energy is translated to the fragments of the weapons casing.fragments of the weapons casing.

Approximately 30% of energy used to Approximately 30% of energy used to fragment the warhead.fragment the warhead.

Fragments propelled at very high Fragments propelled at very high velocities.velocities.

Exceeds the radius of a blast weapon.Exceeds the radius of a blast weapon. Allows for greater inaccuracies in Allows for greater inaccuracies in

weapon use.weapon use.

Fragmentation WarheadFragmentation Warhead

Shaped Warhead (Charge)Shaped Warhead (Charge)Shaped Warhead (Charge)Shaped Warhead (Charge)

Weapon impacts tgt, fuze at rear of Weapon impacts tgt, fuze at rear of weapon ignites apex of metal cone weapon ignites apex of metal cone liner.liner.

Cone collapses from apex forward.Cone collapses from apex forward. Collapse results in the ejection of a Collapse results in the ejection of a

high-velocity molten jet.high-velocity molten jet. Pressure of jet>>>armor yield Pressure of jet>>>armor yield

strength.strength. The jet is followed by a slug.The jet is followed by a slug. The jet liquefies some armor (The jet liquefies some armor (spallingspalling).).

Continuous-Rod WarheadsContinuous-Rod WarheadsContinuous-Rod WarheadsContinuous-Rod Warheads

Used to damage aircraft in the event Used to damage aircraft in the event of a near miss.of a near miss.

Series of rods connected and folded Series of rods connected and folded so that the series expands circularly.so that the series expands circularly.

Doesn’t produce as much destructive Doesn’t produce as much destructive energy as the average fragmentation energy as the average fragmentation weapon.weapon.

Continuous RodContinuous Rod

Special Purpose WeaponsSpecial Purpose WeaponsSpecial Purpose WeaponsSpecial Purpose Weapons

Thermal WeaponsThermal Weapons– Used to start fires.Used to start fires.– Napalm, etc.Napalm, etc.

Biological & Chemical WeaponsBiological & Chemical Weapons– Used to kill with a minimal amount of Used to kill with a minimal amount of

destruction.destruction.– Biological – Microbes, Germs, VirusesBiological – Microbes, Germs, Viruses– Chemical – Nerve, Blood, BlisteringChemical – Nerve, Blood, Blistering

Special Purpose WeaponsSpecial Purpose Weapons

NuclearNuclear– ThermoNuclear – FissionThermoNuclear – Fission– Hydrogen - FusionHydrogen - Fusion

Hiroshima – yield 125kT of TNTHiroshima – yield 125kT of TNT Current Max Yield – 25MT of TNT Current Max Yield – 25MT of TNT (200 (200

times!!)times!!)

Special Purpose Special Purpose Weapons Weapons (cont.)(cont.)

Pyrotechnic WarheadsPyrotechnic Warheads– Illumination (for lighting or signaling)Illumination (for lighting or signaling)– Smoke (white, yellow, red, green, violet)Smoke (white, yellow, red, green, violet)– Markers - WP (“Willy Pete” = white phosphorus)Markers - WP (“Willy Pete” = white phosphorus)

Anti-Personnel WarheadsAnti-Personnel Warheads– Designed kill or maim enemy troops or damage Designed kill or maim enemy troops or damage

materialmaterial– Projectile loaded with steel darts or wire.Projectile loaded with steel darts or wire.

Cluster Bomb Units (CBU)- Used for a variety Cluster Bomb Units (CBU)- Used for a variety targets over a wide pattern area.targets over a wide pattern area.– Wide area of coverage = greater margin of errorWide area of coverage = greater margin of error– Can contain specialized bombletsCan contain specialized bomblets

Special Purpose Weapons Special Purpose Weapons (cont.)(cont.)

Special Purpose Weapons Special Purpose Weapons (cont.)(cont.)

MinesMines– Use underwater blast principlesUse underwater blast principles– Offensive and DefensiveOffensive and Defensive

Torpedoes - Homes on intended Torpedoes - Homes on intended targettarget– Mission / Mobility Kill - Hits ship’s Mission / Mobility Kill - Hits ship’s

screwscrew– Hard Kill - explodes under ships hullHard Kill - explodes under ships hull

Special Purpose Weapons Special Purpose Weapons (cont.)(cont.)

Armor PiercingArmor Piercing– Large diameter shaped charges.Large diameter shaped charges.– KE defeat mechanism (“cookie cutter”).KE defeat mechanism (“cookie cutter”).– Plastic defeat mechanism (massive Plastic defeat mechanism (massive

spalling for lighter armor).spalling for lighter armor).

QuestionQuestions?s?