A calculation of particle size distributions in the break‐up of shaped charge jets

The break‐up of stretching jets created by shaped explosive charges is treated from a dynamic and kinematic viewpoint. By examining the kinetic energy available in an idealized jet as it stretches and breaks and by including some material parameters typical of copper, the maximum permissible length of jet particles after break‐up is calculated. By assuming that relief waves propagate from break points in the jet while the process of break‐up continues in unrelieved parts of the jet, a distribution of number with respect to length is calculated for the jet particles resulting from break‐up, so as to yield a most probable length and a maximum length. The results of two different assumptions for the speed of the relief waves are compared with experimental data for a copper‐lined shaped charge.