Validation of a flight model for predicting debris trajectory from the explosion of an ammunition storage magazine

•A debris throw model with debris shape and speed effect was employed•The post impact ricochet effect was considered by a ricochet criterion•A series of launching tests were conducted to verify the developed model•Detailed comparison between the experimental and numerical results were conducted•Parametric study of the drag and lift coefficients effect was carried out

In this study, a debris throw model which considers the effects of debris shape and speed on the aerodynamic coefficients was employed to predict the flight trajectory of debris generated from an internal explosion of ammunition storage magazine. In order to validate the accuracy of the employed model, a series of launching tests were conducted by using three projectile blocks with different shapes and material properties. Fourteen tests with the actual flight trajectories recorded were conducted. Good comparisons between the experimental results and the numerical predictions based on the employed flight model were obtained. In addition, a parametric study was carried out to investigate the influence of the drag and the lift coefficients on the flight trajectories of debris with different aspect ratios. Results illustrate that the drag force always has a significant effect on the flight trajectory, the lift force effects is only significant for the rectangular and irregular blocks.