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Author: Subject: Unconventional Shaped Charges
greenlight
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[*] posted on 17-6-2015 at 04:34


Nice, the dapping block looks like it does a good job of making hemispherical liners.
I received mine yesterday and am eager to try it out and compare it to the hammer made liner.
I too had a problem where the liner broke up a bit and didn't make a perfectly round hole. I am trying to decide whether to use 1.2mm thick copper sheet this time instead of the usual 1mm, but I would like the specs to be the same as last time so I can accurately compare the results.
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[*] posted on 18-6-2015 at 11:17


Yeah, the dapping block works like a dream, good suggestion you had there. I am not getting slug elongation so I think a stronger casing may be in order, especially with these small charges. I hesitate to use things like steel, but it can be done safely. Of course the depth of the dish relative to its diameter has a lot to do with determining the length and diameter of the projectile. The penetration of the projectile is directly proportional to the kinetic energy of the projectile and proportional to the cross sectional area for a given mass and velocity therefore given the same projectile mass and velocity the penetration should be about double for a projectile with half the cross sectional area. Blunt projectiles have their purpose, but if maximum penetration is desired a longer more narrow projectile is what should be aimed for.

The optimum thickness for the liner depends on the charge diameter among other things.


[Edited on 19-6-2015 by Hennig Brand]




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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 04:49


Had a first test with the dapping block today using a 1mm thick copper liner with a curve indent of 5mm.
The same 30 gram PETN charge was pressed behind the liner with a wooden dowel in a thick-walled cardboard tube. Standoff was 120 cm from 1/4 inch steel plate and the EFP lined up with a laser pointer again.
After intitiation, it was found that the intended effect on the target had not been achieved. Unlike the last time with charge of same specs, there was not a full penetration. It was so close as can be seen in the picture there is a crack running halfway round the other side of the plate where the slug hit as the chunk of steel has nearly been removed by the impact. I think this failure was due to the fact that it was getting dark which made it harder to set up lining up was rushed a bit so the EFP wasn't 100% straight in line with the plate. The plate was slightly offset from the EFP line of fire and in the picture you can see the slug penetrated more on the side it came into contact with first. If the plate was in line I think it would have been a through and through. I think that hitting on a slight angle would also reduce power of the slug.

[Edited on 26-6-2015 by greenlight]

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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 07:17


That is a lot of PETN for the effect obtained, I assume you pressed it well. I think both of our EFP tests would greatly benefit from much stronger casings.



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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 07:22


It is quite disappointing, i pressed it as hard as I could by hand with a wooden dowel, I think the main problem was the fact that the target plate was off centre so it hit at a slight angle.
I think you are right a stronger case would make a big difference, do you think PVC pipe or go all the way to a metal casing.

[Edited on 26-6-2015 by greenlight]
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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 07:56


At that diameter pressing by hand is not going to get the density very high at all. Loading density is proportional to the applied pressure. You are limited to the amount of pressure you can apply by hand and pressure is force per unit area or force over area. As the area gets larger the pressure goes down for a given force. You need mechanical advantage of some sort. That is one of the reasons I like putty/plastic explosives so much, the density is always near maximum and it is extremely easy to load. Pure explosives without inerts added are of course more powerful, if they are loaded properly.


Regarding casing material, a detonation is different of course, but looking at the pressure ratings of these materials should give us something to work with.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pvc-cpvc-pipes-pressures-d...

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/stainless-steel-pipes-pres...

There are lots of other pages too for other pipe materials. Engineering toolbox is a very useful resource!


[Edited on 26-6-2015 by Hennig Brand]




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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 08:39


I will try pressing in my vice next time if it will open wide enough to take casing and a small piece of dowel, otherwise i will have to look for a bench top mechanical press of some sort to get the higher densities needed or of course start using plastic.
Those pipe pressure ratings look very interesting and obviously take a lot more pressure to burst than cardboard so should make the EFP more effective; if I can find some 30mm PVC I will definitely include it as the casing in the next test with a higher density as well to check the difference and move on to metal later.

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[*] posted on 26-6-2015 at 15:37


The inertia/mass of the casing could be the most important variable. The density of steel is so much higher than PVC.



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[*] posted on 1-7-2015 at 04:47


Another test was conducted with an EFP using a copper liner formed with a dapping block:

The liner was a 1mm thick 30 mm diameter copper disc with a curve indent of 5mm like the last test.
This time casing with a higher pressure rating was chosen which was a 30 mm PVC pipe instead of cardboard tube. The charge was 33 grams of PETN which was loaded with a vice press to achieve a higher density.
Target was the usual slightly over 1/4 inch thick steel plate and the standoff was 120cm sighted with a laser pointer.

This time a full penetration was observed and only a small amount of liner breakup as can be seen on the top right of the entry hole:).

The initial liner weight was 5.70 grams and final slug which was recovered from tree behind target weighed 4.85 grams.



[Edited on 1-7-2015 by greenlight]

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[Edited on 1-7-2015 by greenlight]
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[*] posted on 1-7-2015 at 16:18


Saw this on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZOPFiuOL8&feature=play... probably everyone has seen it, but in case not everyone has its pretty interesting setup, pretty low teck to make.
cheers nuxy
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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 04:04


That is an interesting video. One of the things I noticed most was how weak the casing was, it was only fairly thin plastic.

I took a snapshot from the video and took a few measurements on my computer screen, then used known quantities to determine the approximate actual dimensions.

From computer screen:

Liner thickness ~ 1mm
Casing inside diameter ~ 37mm
Casing length (holding charge) ~ 38mm
Given charge mass = 30g
Assume C4 explosive, so density = 1.57g/cc
Given steel target thickness = 10mm

V = pi/4 * D^2 * L

L ~= D so let L = D

V = pi/4 * D^3 also V = 30g / 1.57g/cc = 19.11cc
so actual D ~ 29mm

Liner actual thickness ca. 29mm / 38mm * 1mm = 0.76mm

Liner thickness is 0.76mm / 38mm * 100% = 2% of liner diameter

Penetration = 10mm or 10mm / 29mm = 0.34D


Making accurate measurements from the computer screen was difficult, but even if the inaccuracies resulted in a 50% increase in actual liner thickness relative to actual liner diameter that would still only bring the liner thickness to 3% of liner diameter. Also, I have never handled C4, but from the descriptions I have read the plastic explosive in the video seemed almost too soft and mouldable for C4.

Notice how he states in the video that the charge was effective anywhere up to 60 disc diameters from the target. I would have thought that they would be effective, though maybe not as effective, at much greater distances.

Interesting video, I would like to try a 2 or 3% of diameter liner thickness for my next test using a plastic casing.



EFP Video Snapshot.jpg - 286kB


[Edited on 3-7-2015 by Hennig Brand]




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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 06:06


Im not sure what the explosive is but the boxes on the left of the table are shrike exploders http://www.mondial-defence.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID... from mondial defence systems so it could be pe4 or semtex if they buy there plastic explosive there as well.
The tube looks like acrylic tube the main uk supplyer has 44mm o/d by 34mm I/d http://www.clearplasticsupplies.co.uk/acrylic_tube_clear.htm that looks close to what our chip buttie loving fellow was using. cheers nuxy.
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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 08:53


Even if the dimensions I gave are incorrect proportionately they should still be approximately correct so the liner thickness should still be fairly close to 2% (at most 3%) of the liner diameter. Yeah, it would make sense that the explosive used was Semtex not C4, P4 is very close to C4 from what I understand (only slightly different formulation). If it is in fact a type of Semtex the density would likely be somewhere between 1.43 and 1.5g/cc.



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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 09:15


I have seen that video before and alway wondered what his standoff was because he never says, I don't know how you worked that out but well done. This ideo is what gave me the idea to use 30 gram HE for the charge.
Does anyone know if the empty section of plastic tube he has in front of the copper liner does anything to enhance slug formation or accuracy. It looks almost like his EFP had a small barrel.
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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 10:42


Quote: Originally posted by greenlight  
I have seen that video before and alway wondered what his standoff was because he never says, I don't know how you worked that out but well done. This ideo is what gave me the idea to use 30 gram HE for the charge.
Does anyone know if the empty section of plastic tube he has in front of the copper liner does anything to enhance slug formation or accuracy. It looks almost like his EFP had a small barrel.


Judging from the lenght of the "barrel" I guess it serves as a standoff guide when using the same diameter cone liner in the plastic tube for a regular shaped charge effect. For an EFP application I do not hink it has any relevance...




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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 11:07
efp


Packaging has almost no influence on the formation liner. It is important to observe the depth charges. Depth greater than 1x average results in tearing the liner. Less than 0.7 reduces the average power EFP. Very important is the accuracy and the same density EM. With a diameter of 30 mm does not affect either 2 mm steel for packaging. 5 mm yes. Plastic and paper packaging has no effect. Production accuracy. That's the main thing. This examples, liner thick 1mm. Liptakov

pro_pf_2_1101.jpg - 290kB
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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 16:24


One of the things I noticed was that a shallow dish would hold together well, even if a lot of high velocity explosive was used, but at the same time the projectile tended to be short and blunt/wide. It would seem that every time one variable is changed other variables have to be changed as well to get optimum results. The idea that one liner thickness or liner curve depth will suit every type and quantity of explosive and EFP charge diameter is likely not very realistic. All the variables seem interrelated, much more so than with Munroe effect shaped charges. I find EFPs finicky, but then maybe I just don't have them figured out yet.



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[*] posted on 2-7-2015 at 22:58


Of course, I agree. In other words: Build a good symmetrical projectile only one explosion (without tools and products) is very difficult. Copper cake must hold shape, they must fly single piece of copper. For devices SC, copper can disperse on the liquid metal, and it still works pretty well.
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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 05:50


I found a length of 25 mm alloy rod I had forgotten in my shed so I copied the risi rp4 ebw ssf casing today used my standard ebw head but I think I might change it to have a initiator like the original so I can use plasticised etn as the main charge, its almost to good to destroy :D. cheers nuxy.

[Edited on 3-7-2015 by nux vomica]

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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 06:23


Looks good! You certainly know your way around a lathe and other fabrication shop tools.



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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 06:31


Its not part of my trade, one of my old jobs the forman there was a toolmaker by trade but he was a lazy Austrian shit and I ended up learning how to use a lathe and mill so I could get my jobs done, I suppose I should thank him now;)
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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 07:10


I ran out of plastic explosive a few days ago and made some more. For the last while I have been using 80/10/10, ETN/ polybutene/mineral oil, but this composition is quite oily, falls apart fairly easily and is 20% inert material. I decided to try with only polybutene and ETN, 87% ETN and 13% polybutene was used. The polybutene was smeared out in a thin layer over a previously warmed glass cutting board and then the fine crystalline ETN was worked in with a glass rolling pin. The composition was repeatedly gathered up with a rubber spatula and rolled out until it was well incorporated and dense (this was easier when oil was used). This composition holds together well, much better than the previous composition, is not oily or excessively sticky and contains only 13% inert material. I compared it to "Play-Doh" brand children's modelling compound and it is much stiffer, but still fairly easy to mould. It could be softened by adding a bit of mineral or silicon oil if desired.

Attached is an image of about 79g of the composition (what I have left after doing a little testing).


Plastic Explosive ETN & PB.jpg - 202kB


[Edited on 3-7-2015 by Hennig Brand]




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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 07:33


plastification
That's weird. So much plasticizer? I use 4% of the PIB (from vulcanizing tape). In heptane solution of 10%. Thus 9.2 g EM + 4 g of 10% solution (0.4 g PIB) + 0,4g 5W40 oil. Plasticity is perfect. For all powder EM. The heptane was evaporated. 10 g plasticization takes 5-10 minutes. Under fan warm air. Very quickly process. Same as in video example Liptex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6QfTOLH0Gk
or Chedditex. Dr. Liptakov
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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 07:35


That plastic looks really nice Hennig, how large were the ETN crystals that you used?
Do you think that PETN could be substituted for the ETN in this plastic explosive formulation you have made?
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[*] posted on 3-7-2015 at 11:27


The PIB or PB are binders, the plasticizer or softener would be the oil or sebacate, etc. Even C-4 normally has around 10-12% inerts, from what I have read, and it is apparently not as soft and easily mouldable as plastic explosives like Semtex which have a much higher inerts content. The polybutene I am using is likely lower molecular weight than is ideal for this purpose which has to be taken into consideration as well. The fact that the PB can be incorporated fairly easily without the use of a solvent tells a lot I think. Very nice videos by the way!

Thanks, yeah it is really nice to handle, it is bound together really well, is easily mouldable and it is not oily and sticky (almost nothing gets transferred to the hands when handling it). The ETN was high purity and the crystals were not very large since they were formed from fairly rapid cooling of a solution in methanol. It would likely be at least a little different with PETN but it should still work more or less the same.


[Edited on 3-7-2015 by Hennig Brand]




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