Experiments in Plate Cutting by Shaped High Explosive Charges

Although axisymmetrical lined cavity shaped charges have received considerable development and analytical treatment in the past, mainly in connection with armour piercing projectiles, relatively little attention appears to have been directed towards the linear system. This finds limited application in the cutting of plates, sections and pipes, in demolition and emergency rescue work for example.

Experiments into the linear cutting system are described in this paper, to investigate the influence of liner and charge geometry. Steel plates up to 2 in thickness are cut, using charge weights up to 50 g per inch of cut. To investigate the theories available for the development of the very high velocity cutting jet and its penetration of the target, experiments are performed on a range of liner and target materials to achieve variations in density and yield strength.