Analysis on lethality characteristics of shell-split warheads under explosive loads

Abstract Case cutting has been demonstrated as a means of warhead self-destruction, but few studies have analyzed it in detail. Based on the self-destruction of ammunition, the effect of warhead shell split including the shell fragmentation and scattering characteristics driven by charge detonation were studied. The results show that by cutting and splitting the shell of the warhead, the shell driven by the charge detonation can be hardly broken, and scatter in the form of large-size shell splits. The velocity of fragments speed decreases quickly, and the killing density is significantly reduced. The research results in this paper can provide a reference to the design and analysis on self-destruction of the warhead.