FRAGMENTATION EFFECTS ON LETHALITY RESULTS

Abstract

In order to evaluate the lethal performance of a given weapon, it is necessary to determine the characteristics of the fragments’ spray generated by the detonation. Those trials are carried out by the CEA with static detonation tests, also known as arena tests, and the fragmentation is simulated in a numerical software (PROMETER) to calculate the effectiveness of that weapon or the vulnerability of the target. The first aim is to evaluate the impact of those numerous small fragments on lethality calculations. Furthermore, a lethality assessment is done to evaluate the effects of the fragmentation parameters on lethality results. Those parameters are also determined through arena tests but can be evaluated numerically with FREM or numerical simulations.