Simulation and Experimental Study on Jet Velocity of Zr-Based Amorphous Alloy Liner

Abstract

Zr-based amorphous alloy is a new energetic material that has been closely monitored and extensively studied for the design of highly effective shaped charge warheads in recent years. In order to accurately determine the motion parameters of shaped charge jets during the detonation-driven formation process of Zr-based amorphous alloy liners, we prepared conical ZrCuNiAlAg liners by vacuum die casting and supercooled liquid high-rheological-rate formation processes. Based on jet-formation numerical simulation, pulsed X-ray imaging and copper foil target velocity measuring tests were conducted to identify the variation trend of the jet velocity of Zr-based amorphous alloy liners with time. The jet velocities at typical moments in the free flight stage were verified. The research results showed that Zr-based amorphous alloy liners could produce solid jets, whose velocity was in gradient descent from the head to the tail, and that the jet’s head velocity peaked at 12 μs and then slowly decreased with time. The average velocities measured by the X-ray imaging and copper foil target tests were 6913 m/s and 7177 m/s, respectively, and both of them were in good agreement with the simulation results, verifying the accuracy of the numerical simulation model for jet formation. The formation processes of shaped charge liners were found to affect the mechanical properties of the material and thus, the jet’s formation process and motion parameters. The Zr-based amorphous alloy liner formed by the supercooled liquid-phase high-rheological-rate formation process exhibited a jet velocity 6.5% higher than that formed by the vacuum die casting process.