Additively manufactured penetrating warheads

¹ IMPETUS Afea, Grenade, France
² MBDA, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
³ Thiot Ingénierie, Route Nationale, 46130 Puybrun, France

^* Corresponding author: jerome@impetus.fr

Published online: 7 September 2018

Abstract

Penetrating warheads have to both defeat thick and high strength targets and have high blast effects. Lattice structures could help to enhance blast effect and reduce the weight of the penetrators. Additive manufacture provides a method to produce this concept. This paper details a programme to evaluate the perforation performance of such a penetrator. This study implemented an approach based on the integration of virtual and physical tests. A mesoscale numerical approach based on explicit high order finite element (HOFEM) was first developed to optimize the lattice pattern. The dynamic behaviour of this material was then determined using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique and this was then used to fit a constitutive model in Impetus Afea Solver®. The modelling of the concrete penetration of small scale warhead was based on the advanced meshless approach coupled with HOFEM. The models developed enabled the determination, simultaneously, of the homogenised behaviour of the lattice material and also the global behaviour of the penetrators during and after the penetration. Seven ballistic tests against concrete targets were performed at Thiot Ingenierie to investigate the penetration capabilities of the additively manufactured penetrating warhead concept and especially when using a lattice pattern.