Influence of buffer material on explosive driven of reactive fragment warhead

The influence of buffer material and layer thickness on explosive driven behaviors of reactive fragment warhead has been researched using combined approach of numerical simulation and experiments. The numerical results demonstrate that the value of initial velocity decreases significantly with the increase of the thickness of buffer layer. For the same thickness, the buffer layer made from annealed aluminum has the greatest effect on the initial velocity decrease of reactive fragment being close to a linear decrease trend, while the buffer with nylon and Kevlar material gives a smaller effect. The magnitude of load of reactive fragment subject to detonation waves decrease evidently with the increase of the thickness of buffer layer. For the same thickness, the buffer layer made from annealed aluminum has the best effect and the buffer with Kevlar material shows a secondary best effect. Considering comprehensively the initial velocity and the integrity of reactive, it is suggested that the buffer layer made from Kevlar material be optimal. The explosion experiments of reactive fragment warhead were conducted and the test results agreed well with the results of numerical simulation showing the validity of the numerical approach.