Optical methods of studying the explosion of shaped charges

This article describes a group of optical methods for studying the explosion of shaped charges, including modifications of established methods (slit photorecording, the luminous points method, laser probing) and two new methods – measurement of wave velocities with transducers based on optical fibers and laser visualization of the shaped-charge jet. Optical methods are used to study such jets under laboratory conditions. Characteristic distortions of the symmetry of the detonation front and their effect on the jet are discussed, the probable character of breakup of the jet is established, and the distribution of the jet particles with respect to size is determined along with the maximum values of average limiting tension for copper.