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Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

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Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#51
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it has nothing to do with shaped charges; they are using missiles that explode on top of the tanks. Most armor of the tank is frontal arc, some on the sides, top armor is minimal, just a few centimeters, so it can be easily penetrated by explosions of these missiles or by aircraft cannon fire from platforms like A-10.

HEAT warheads (what NLAW has) is completely to do with shaped charges.

Yes, but it is not how it is used in Ukraine. Quote: "Against tanks and other armoured vehicles, the overfly top attack (OTA) mode is used; the missile flies about one metre above the line of sight, detonating the warhead above the target's weaker top armour".

It has dual-mode: direct attack and OTA. The many tanks in Ukraine are killed in OTA, that does not use the shaped charge effect.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#53
post #16

I'm not sure I fully understood the explanation. So the copper cone is turned inside out and turns into a pointed wire that drives into the target? How is it that this wire can continue through the 1ft of steel? Is the force of the explosion flowing through this wire/tube, like liquid in a straw? And somehow it can sustain this through 1ft of steel?

Here's a vid I found that seems to show a simulation of the effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpVVGk2OfQQ

Great find @ 0:40. The only thing it doesn't convey very well is the older man's explanation of the copper spear curling outward on itself. From the simulation, it seems like it is just punching through and maintaining its rigidity somehow.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#54
post #16

I'm not sure I fully understood the explanation. So the copper cone is turned inside out and turns into a pointed wire that drives into the target? How is it that this wire can continue through the 1ft of steel? Is the force of the explosion flowing through this wire/tube, like liquid in a straw? And somehow it can sustain this through 1ft of steel?

It's not molten but it could be and it would still work as the guy in the video invented water-lined shaped charges (for disabling mines and IEDs without making them explode). What's important is the force/pressure that pushes steel to the side.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#55
post #19
post #16

I'm not sure I fully understood the explanation. So the copper cone is turned inside out and turns into a pointed wire that drives into the target? How is it that this wire can continue through the 1ft of steel? Is the force of the explosion flowing through this wire/tube, like liquid in a straw? And somehow it can sustain this through 1ft of steel?

due to the copper cone shape and the explosion wave propagation from the back the copper, which at those pressures is flowing like a liquid, is formed into a jet and pushed forward like a water in a power washer hose. Water at 3000bar would cut several inch steel ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quL14Csmi_Y ). The copper in that explosion gets accelerated to the speeds of like 10km/s and as a result cuts through eve…

Also crucially, the munitions compartment is weaker on the outside of the tank than on the wall between it and the crew, so if it goes, it blows out of the tank (search term “blowout panels”)

Fireworks and ammunition factories and storage facilities tend to have strong walls and relatively weak roofs for the same reason: if a building goes boom, you don’t want it to make neighboring buildings go boom, too.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> much like a jet of hot water melts through a block of ice cold water can cut through steel also... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0NVOThRooE

Waterjet cutting uses water to propel a powder which acts as an abrasive, like an infinite stream of sandpaper. I don't think water by itself will achieve much.

Sounds like pressure washing vs sand blasting. Only difference between the two (aside from drastically different effect) is sand blasting has an intake tube to suck sand into the water jet.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#57

"I designed this, for, well, filling by the user. It means it can travel on airplanes and such" Presenter: "DIY shaped charges, of course " "Mmm yes" I get that he likely meant it can be shipped on airplanes and local explosives used for easier logistics, but it's amusing to hear an explosive munitions expert brag about designing something so it can be carried on airplanes. "This box, I'm pleased to tell you, is full…

YT brought me this[1] next, another jolly bunch with explosives.

One of them before an attempt with water between the explosive and the target wall: I predict it will either go through or the wall will be really clean.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUKTIt5GQrM

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#58
post #2

That's a nice explanation of how anti-tank weapons work.

I wonder if that's how Ukraine killed so many tanks

Poor training, poor tactics, poor supply/logistics, poor operational security. And despite Russia's supposed doctrine of having very tight infantry/mechanized unit integration, their mechanized forced have been very vulnerable to Ukraine's infantry. Especially early in the war, Russia's mechanized units were running out of food, water, fuel, and ammunition.

Russia used Ukraine's mobile network and cell phones, then when they realized Ukraine was just targeting where they saw lots of Russian phone numbers, they stole Ukrainian phones off civilians...so Ukraine started accepting reports of stole SIMs/phones and tracking those.

Turns out that surrounding yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear (and who are siphoning off every ruble they can into their own pockets) isn't that great for having a strong armed service.

Also, you've got a force with a lot of conscripts who were lied to about what they were doing, versus a force which has watched their friends and family get butchered. That's one reason you don't go around slaughtering civilian populations...it makes for a very, very motivated, united, angry enemy.

Re: Shaped Charges – Sheet of copper going through 1ft of solid steel (2010) [video]

#59
post #16

I'm not sure I fully understood the explanation. So the copper cone is turned inside out and turns into a pointed wire that drives into the target? How is it that this wire can continue through the 1ft of steel? Is the force of the explosion flowing through this wire/tube, like liquid in a straw? And somehow it can sustain this through 1ft of steel?

Here's a vid I found that seems to show a simulation of the effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpVVGk2OfQQ

It appears to rely on the copper’s ductility. Curious if a gold or silver shaped charge has been modelled.
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