A fragments mass distribution scaling relations for fragmenting shells with variable thickness subjected to internal explosive loading

This paper presents scaling relations of the fragments mass distribution for fragmenting shell with variable thickness subjected to internal explosive loading. Available formulas usually predict the fragmentation law of shell with constant thickness, and there are few sources that describe the fragment mass distribution of shells with variable thickness, which are usually used in the Earth Penetration Warhead (EPW). In the study, shells with variable thickness fragmentation were investigated experimentally, and the fragment mass distribution was obtained by statistical analysis. Furthermore, the semi-empirical scaling relations between the fragments' mass statistical characteristic value of shells with variable thickness and the physical parameters based on the Mott statistical distribution and Grady formula is proposed by the theoretical analysis and data analysis. The position of the initiation end and the taper of the variable thickness shell are considered in the scaling relations which has wider applicability in the study of the fragments mass distribution of shells with variable thickness subjected to internal explosive loading.