Non-focusing active warhead
Abstract
A non-nuclear, non-focusing, active warhead that comprises a high explosive charge contained within a casing of reactive metal. When the high explosive is detonated, the reactive metal is dispersed and reacts with the air, which significantly increases the explosive yield of the warhead. The active warhead produces therefore much higher blast effects with significantly reduced weight compared to conventional munitions. The warhead is highly effective against such targets as aircraft which typically have thin fuselages, for example. The explosiveness of this warhead can be enhanced further by elevating the temperature and therefore the reactivity of the reactive metal before or during the explosion. New methods of enhancing the reactivity of the metal are also taught.
- Inventors:
-
- Castro Valley, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872058
- Patent Number(s):
- 5852256
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Secretary of Air (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F42 - AMMUNITION F42B - EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- non-focusing; active; warhead; non-nuclear; comprises; explosive; charge; contained; casing; reactive; metal; detonated; dispersed; reacts; air; significantly; increases; yield; produces; blast; effects; reduced; weight; compared; conventional; munitions; highly; effective; targets; aircraft; typically; fuselages; example; explosiveness; enhanced; elevating; temperature; reactivity; explosion; methods; enhancing; taught; significantly increases; significantly reduce; active metal; reactive metal; explosive charge; significantly reduced; highly effective; active warhead; significantly increase; /102/
Citation Formats
Hornig, Howard C. Non-focusing active warhead. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Hornig, Howard C. Non-focusing active warhead. United States.
Hornig, Howard C. Thu .
"Non-focusing active warhead". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872058.
@article{osti_872058,
title = {Non-focusing active warhead},
author = {Hornig, Howard C},
abstractNote = {A non-nuclear, non-focusing, active warhead that comprises a high explosive charge contained within a casing of reactive metal. When the high explosive is detonated, the reactive metal is dispersed and reacts with the air, which significantly increases the explosive yield of the warhead. The active warhead produces therefore much higher blast effects with significantly reduced weight compared to conventional munitions. The warhead is highly effective against such targets as aircraft which typically have thin fuselages, for example. The explosiveness of this warhead can be enhanced further by elevating the temperature and therefore the reactivity of the reactive metal before or during the explosion. New methods of enhancing the reactivity of the metal are also taught.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {1}
}