Jet fragmentation in shaped charges

Abstract: This master thesis treats the numerical simulation of shaped charge jets and its fragmentation process. Shaped charges is a method to concentrate the effect of an explosive charge and penetrate deeply into a target due to a the formation of a jet with great penetration capabilities. The jet's penetration capability is limited by the eventual axial breakup and an understanding of the fragmentation process is great importance.  A literature review on the existing methods for studying the fragmentation process is presented. A physical model and its governing equations are thereafter derived based on the review. A Lagrangian approach is used to model the jet and equations based on conservation laws coupled with a constitutive relationship yielding a system of nonlinear partial differential equations.  Moreover, an analysis of the well-posedness of a simplified problem is investigated and its derived conditions are consistent with the physically expected. The flight and initial breakup of the jet is then studied numerically by employing a method of lines. The implemented numerical model's stability is investigated empirically and the theoretically expected rate of convergence is confirmed. The theoretical conditions for well-posedness are also confirmed numerically.  The derived model and its implementation is tested for a real charge and its results are compared with and found consistent with more advanced simulations. Furthermore, the jets physical properties are also investigated and the existence of a critical wavelength is shown.  The resulting model and its implementation is capable of calculating position, velocity and geometry at fragmentation. It can also be used to investigate the calculated fragmentation's dependency on different parameters and constitutive equation. The numerical simulation can therefore be used to increase the understanding under which conditions the jet breakup and which material- and geometry properties that dominates the rate in the fragmentation process. Possible future use is also as the foundation of a tool that can be used to evaluate analytical models.