Microsecond time scale thermocouple temperature measurements in solid penetrated by a shaped charge jet

Abstract

The development of microsecond time scale temperature measurements in shock-loaded solids is briefly reviewed. The feasibility of making thermocouple temperature measurements near a cavity created by a shaped charge jet in medium carbon steel and glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite solid targets has been studied. Thermal diffusion calculations demonstrated that these measurements were feasible if the foil thermocouple was on the order of 600 Å thick. Chromel–alumel thermocouples were used because of the anticipated temperature measurement range and also because they have a small pressure correction. The thermocouple fabrication method is discussed in this article. By embedding the thermocouples in the target plates at different distances from the shaped charge generated cavity, temperature distributions were obtained in the steel and composite materials. These temperature distributions were shown to be consistent with temperatures for melting at the cavity in the steel and for epoxy degradation in the composite material.