Computational and experimental study of operation of shaped charges with hemispherical facings of degressive thickness

Operation of shaped charges with copper hemispherical facings of degressive (decreasing from top to bottom) thickness is experimentally studied. The velocity of the head of generated shaped-charge jets is determined along with how deep they penetrate a type-setting barrier made of steel disks and the sizes of holes made in the disks. The experimental data on an increase in the velocity and a decrease in the mass of the heads of shaped-charge jets, which occur with an increase in the difference in the thicknesses of the hemispherical liner at the apex and at the base are in good agreement with the results of numerical modeling carried out within the framework of a two-dimensional axisymmetric problem of continuous mechanics. According to the experimental results, the effect of technological manufacturing errors on the operation of these charges becomes stronger, which eliminates or significantly limits the increase in the penetrating action. In one of the versions of facings of degressive thickness, the depth of penetration of a barrier, which is average in two tests, increases by 7.5% as compared to the facing of constant thickness.