KE-Rod initial velocity of hollow cylindrical charge

KE-rod warhead is a kind of forward interception warhead. To control the KE-rods to disperse uniformly, the hollow cylindrical charge is applied. Initial velocity is crucial to KE-rods distribution and the coordination between the fuze and the warhead. Therefore, based on the classical Gurney formula of cylindrical charge and tabulate interlayer charge, a mathematical model for calculating the KE-rod initial velocity of hollow cylindrical charge has been deduced based on certain assumptions, of which the basis theory is energy and momentum conservation. To validate this deduced equation, high-speed photography and metal-pass target experimental methods were applied simultaneously to test the initial velocity of designed KE-rod warhead. Testing results clearly indicate that the calculated results of the derived mathematical model coincides with the experimental results, and with the increase in hollow radius, the calculated results become much closer to the experimental results. But the calculated results of classical Gurney formula are far above the experimental results, and the relative error increases with increase in the hollow diameter. The derived mathematical model with satisfactory accuracy is applicable to calculate the KE-rod initial velocity of hollow cylindrical charge in engineering applications.