Significantly improved penetration performance of intermetallic-compound-contained Ti-Al-Nb alloy shaped charge liner against reinforced concrete targets

To avoid the aimless design of shaped charge liner (SCL) material for obtaining deep penetration and large penetration holes in reinforced concrete targets, new design principles are proposed in this study. Following the principles, an intermetallic-compound-reinforced Ti-17Al-29Nb alloy was prepared via hot isostatic pressing (HIP) sintering. This alloy shows high dynamic compressive strength (1583 MPa), high dynamic compressive plasticity (35 %), high elevated-temperature tensile strength (414 MPa at 800 °C), and low elevated-temperature plasticity (6 % at 800 °C). The penetrating experiments showed that the Ti-17Al-29Nb alloy liner penetrated through the 600-mm-thick C40 concrete target, forming large penetration holes. Although the penetration depth was slightly lower than that of the most commonly used pure copper liner, the diameter of the exit hole was 2.1 times that of the pure copper liner. The high jet tip velocity (7651 m/s) and large jet diameter (a maximum of 0.28 CD) were the key factors to form the high penetration depth and large penetration hole. This study not only brings a new type of SCL material with excellent penetration performance against reinforced concrete targets but also provides a new research direction for the design and selection of the SCL materials.