Influence of detonation driving on terminal ballistic effects of tungsten spheres

Tests were performed to investigate the influence of detonation driving on terminal ballistic effects of tungsten spheres. The experimental results show that (1) tungsten spheres are slightly deformed and damaged as a result of the high shock pulse during detonation, the average mass loss of tungsten spheres with a diameter of 6.0 mm and 7.5 mm is 8.4%; (2) for ideal tungsten spheres, the attenuation coefficient of velocity is constant, the air drag coefficient is a linear function of initial velocity, whereas for tungsten spheres formed by a warhead, the attenuation coefficient of velocity is not constant, the air drag coefficient is a linear function of flight velocity; (3) the deformation and damage of tungsten spheres exerts a obvious influence on the perforation thickness, for tungsten spheres with a diameter of 7.5 mm, experiments and calculations confirm a 35%-reduction in ballistic limit perforation thickness.