Damage Effect of Thermobaric Warhead with Reactive Casing on Phased-array Radar Antenna

doi:10.12382/bgxb.2023.0895

Abstract

Abstract:

The power of a warhead composed of reactive shell and thermobaric explosive and its damage effects on phased-array radar antenna are studied to enhance the destructive effects and provide support for the design of relevant warheads. Two kinds of thermobaric warheads with reactive casing and 20 steel casing, which have the same size, are designed. Damage effect tests are conducted on a simulated phased-array radar antenna target. The fireball temperature, shock wave, and target dielectric rod damage ratio are test and analyzed. The following findings were observed through a comparative analysis: For warheads with the same size and explosive charge, the warhead with reactive casing exhibits a 14.90% increase in the maximum temperature and a 20%-50% increase in the area of fireball above 500℃, as compared to the warhead with steel casing. Additionally, the specific impulse of warhead with reactive casing is always higher than that of warhead with steel casing, resulting in a 15.5% increase in the level of damage to a target at a distance of 8 m. Thermobaric warheads can cause damage to a target through natural fragments and shock waves. The shock wave can induce a widespread disintegration of the dielectric rods. And the linear relationship between specific impulse and the damage degree of target is significant. Specific impulse can be used as a criterion parameter to judge the damage of phased array radar antenna. It can be seen from the test analysis that the specific impulse of shock wave should exceed 142.5Pa·s in order to achieve damage to more than 54.8% of the arrayed units.

Key words: reactive casing, thermobaric explosive, phased-array radar antenna, damage efficiency

CLC Number:

TJ413⁺.1

JIAO Xiaolong, XU Yuxin, WU Zongya, ZHOU Tong. Damage Effect of Thermobaric Warhead with Reactive Casing on Phased-array Radar Antenna[J]. Acta Armamentarii, 2024, 45(6): 1725-1734.

Figures/Tables 20

Fig.1 Warhead structure scheme

Table 1 Structure parameters of warhead

战斗部类型	装药直径/ mm	装药高度/ mm	壳体厚度/ mm	壳体质量/kg	装填系数
SC	217	176	3	3.22	0.74
RC	217	177	3	2.78	0.76

Table 2 Reaction behaviors of reactive material at different strain rates

Fig.2 Disintegrating process of reactive material

Fig.3 Recovered debris

Fig.4 Schematic diagram of target structure

Fig.5 Test layout

Fig.6 Explosion process of warhead

Fig.7 Explosive fireball temperature and area ratio over time

Table 3 Parameters of fireball temperature

战斗部类型	温度第1波峰值/℃	第1波峰降温速度/ (℃·ms^-1)	温度第2波峰值/℃	第2波峰升温时间/ ms
SC	606.0	655.2	616.9	45.0
RC	656.1	369.9	709.0	95.5

Fig.8 Shock wave overpressure curves measured by different sensors

Table 4 Shock wave characteristic parameters

离爆心距离/m	战斗部类型	超压峰值/ kPa		正压作用时间/ms		比冲量/ (Pa·s)
离爆心距离/m	战斗部类型	测试值	均值	测试值	均值	测试值	均值
5	SC	515.6	502.3	2.0	1.7	207.0	194.7
		502.2		1.6		191.2
		394.4		1.5		199.2
		597.1		1.7		181.2
	RC	368.7	420.4	1.7	1.6	222.3	203.3
		468.2		1.9		220.4
		382.1		1.5		200.6
		462.6		1.2		169.9
8	SC	86.7	133.2	4.6	4.9	109.0	142.5
		181.7		5.0		147.8
		140.9		4.9		152.3
		123.3		5.1		161.0
	RC	164.3	146.7	5.8	5.2	171.7	165.7
		137.8		4.6		157.9
		138.0		5.2		167.6

Fig.9 Bar chart of peak overpressures

Fig.10 Bar chart of action time of positive pressure

Fig.11 Bar chart of specific impulse

Fig.12 State of dielectric rod after test

Fig.13 Target damaged by warhead with steel casing

Fig.14 Target damaged by warhead with reactive casing

Table 5 Statistics of dielectric rod damage

壳体	剩余数/ 枚	总数/ 枚	损坏数/ 枚	损坏比例/ %	比冲量/ (Pa·s)
SC	1851	4091	2240	54.8	142.5
RC	1503	4091	2588	63.3	165.7

Fig.15 Changing curve of damage degree with peak overpressure and specific impulse

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