ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL REACTIVE MATERIALS ON A WARHEADS IM

Abstract

Structural reactive materials have been identified as feasible technology to improve a warhead’s lethality by air blast/bubble energy, behind armor effects, or as small sized initiation elements. Laboratory scale sensitivity test data reveal that many SRM formulations show a much higher shock and thermal insensitivity level compared to the well-known energetic materials TNT and HMX. Even though few data were identified in literature, estimation of IM test results is possible by generic reaction models. Based on the NATO AOP-39 framework, the IM characteristics of non-mitigated SRM warheads are anticipated to be between Type I (SR/SJ) and Type III (FH/SH/BI/FI), which is significantly worse than the current state of the art (i.e. Type IV – VI). With IM SRM compositions and applied venting and shock mitigation, response levels of Type III for SR and SJ tests seem achievable and even better results of Type IV-V for FH/SH/BI/FI.