L-107 Minutes of the Debris From Explosions Technical Meeting

September 2004
Frédéric Peugeot (Warhead Technology)

The goals of the meeting were to assess databases and models related to debris generation and debris throw including bounce and roll effects.

To fulfil these goals, the first step consists in performing instrumented tests and debris/fragment recovery operations, the second step consists in generating databases of results and the final step consists in comparing the predictions of developed models to tests results in order to verify their validity and accuracy.

Information was provided on the US SCiPan Tests 1 & 2, the Norwegian DEN Tests and the last 20 years UK tests including the 1999 40 tons Woomera trial supported also by Australia, the USA, Norway, Singapore and the Netherlands.

The databases generated from these tests (second step) have been provided during the meeting and are available under the following links:

SCiPan tests results   (AC/326 Only)

Grindsjø tests results   (AC/326 Only)

UK Tests Reports   (AC/326 Only) - 22.9 Mb - Declassified Documents

Regarding the models predictions, both semi-empirical tools and hydrocode modelling were used not only to challenge the real tests results but also to investigate the influence of factors such as the loading density or the azimuthal angle variation to mention only two. Information concerning the validity of SAFER2, DISPRE2, INVEX and other engineering tools are available through the various presentations proposed (see the agenda section).

Finally some recommendations were made:

Debris criteria should be updated to reflect new information (especially effects of loading density and azimuthal variation on IBD and debris beam width). There is a necessity to develop tailor made tests to validate an average launch angle of 0° and a standard deviation of 6 ° +/- 2° for debris calculations for the horizontal and vertical direction. There is a necessity to address bounce and roll issues (including crushing upon impact) in more depth.

Following these exchanges, it was concluded that collaborative efforts needed to be continued, a second step being made by the US, with an invitation to participate actively to the coming SCiPan 3 tests (100 kg/m3 loading density) to all the nations wishing it.