Numerical investigation on characteristics of the shock wave generated by an annular nested charge

This study is aimed at understanding some characteristics of the shock wave generated by a novel composite charge consisting of an inner high explosive, a medium non-detonating layer, and an outer aluminized explosive. The influence of the shell restraints and initiation modes on the peak overpressure and impulse of the charge is investigated. Numerical models are developed based on the mapping function of AUTODYN for determining the spatial distribution of the shock wave overpressure. By means of validation experiments, the accuracy of the developed model is verified. It is found that the peak overpressure and impulse obtained from experiments and simulations are in good agreement, with a deviation of less than 16.9%. The difference in the overpressures at various azimuths decreases with increasing distance, and the shock wave profile eventually evolves into a spherical shape. The radial overpressure of the shelled composite charge is initially greater than that in the axial direction and decays rapidly with increasing distance. The azimuth corresponding to the maximum peak overpressure is shifted from $75^\circ$C for the bare charge to $110^\circ$C for the shelled charge. It is found that the energy utilization of the composite charge under inner initiation is apparently smaller than that under simultaneous initiation.