Formability Characteristics and Penetration Performance of Micro-Jets from Different Materials

Abstract

A micro-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm has high flexibility and intelligent unmanned flight and stealth capabilities. Moreover, it can attack both single and group targets, which will occupy dominant positions in the future information war. To satisfy the new micro-UAV swarm information combat mode and contribute to the advances in ammunition flexibility, efficiency, miniaturization, and multipurpose applicability, a 10 mm caliber micro-shaped charge warhead was designed in this study. The results indicate that the micro-shaped charge can be assembled with a micro-UAV swarm to efficiently damage the targets without relying on the weapon launch velocity. To realize a lightweight and high-efficiency micro-shaped charge structure, the formability of Teflon, nylon, polycarbonate (polycarb), and metallic copper liners was studied using the finite element analysis. The penetration efficiencies of different micro-jets on gelatin targets were compared and analyzed. It was found that the micro-shaped charge nylon and Teflon jets could pass through the gelatin target and transfer more energy to it compared with copper. The observed penetration aperture was also larger. Although the penetration depth of the polycarb jet to the target was the smallest, the penetration aperture was the largest. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for the development of micro-shaped charge technology.