Formation behaviors of rod-like reactive shaped charge penetrator and their effects on damage capability

Formation behaviors of rod-like reactive shaped charge penetrator (RRSCP) and their effects on damage capability are investigated by experiments and numerical simulations. The pulsed X-ray technology and a spaced aluminum/steel plate with the thicknesses of 5 mm/100 mm are used. Three types of spherical-segment aluminum-polytetrafluoroethylene-copper (Al-PTFE-Cu) reactive liners with Cu contents of 0%, 46.6%, and 66% are fabricated and tested. The experimental results show that the reactive liners can form excellent rod-shaped penetrators with tail skirts under the shaped charge effect, but the tail skirts disappear over time. Moreover, rupturing damage to the aluminum plate and penetration to the steel plate are caused by the RRSCP impact. From simulation analysis, the RRSCP is formed by a mechanically and chemically coupled response with the reactive liner activated by shock in its outer walls and bottom and then backward overturning, forming a leading reactive penetrator and a following chemical energy cluster. The unique formation structure determines the damage modes of the aluminum plate and the steel plate. Further analysis indicates that the formation behaviors and damage capability of Al-PTFE-Cu RRSCP strongly depend on Cu content. With increasing Cu content, the velocity, activation extent, and reaction extent of Al-PTFE-Cu RRSCP decrease, which contribute to elongation and alleviate the negative effects of chemical reactions on elongation, significantly increasing the length-diameter ratio and thus enhancing the capability of steel plate penetration. However, the lower activation extent and energetic density will weaken the RRSCP's capability of causing rupturing damage to the aluminum plate.