What is a Shaped Charge?
A shaped charge is a specially-forged explosive designed to project a superheated jet of liquid metal through armor. Dense and ductile metals are most effective, with copper being the most common. Modern shaped charges can achieve penetration of 10 CD (cone diameters). For example, a shaped charge with a 10cm (4 in) cone diameter would be able to penetrate a meter through armor. Shaped charges have become notorious in Iraq, where they are used in roadside bombs to penetrate through APC armor and kill American soldiers. The shaped charge consists of a cone or cylinder-shaped high explosive, such as HMX embedded in a plastic binder. The charge is partially hollowed out and filled with a cone of metal called the liner. This is the portion that becomes the superheated jet. When the explosive is detonated, the liner cone is compressed into a jet and accelerated forward. The tip of the shaped charge jet moves at hypersonic velocity, around 7 to 14 km/s, which is 20-40 times the speed of soun
PIKE: Well, with a regular explosive, you’re going to have the explosion and, more importantly, these big chunks of steel, flying off in every direction. The good news, from it standpoint of the Americans is, that means that most of that lethality is wasted if you’re detonating a roadside bomb. But with the shape charge system, it’s basically almost like firing a canon shell directly at the target. That shape charge is sending out essentially all of the shrapnel, all of the explosive force, directly at the target as it drives by. Enormously difficult to counter. HOLMES: And how much damage will it do? PIKE: Well, I think that we’ve seen with some of these vehicles, these marine vehicles that have been destroyed, killing the marines inside over the last week or so, heavy armed vehicles, vehicles that weigh 15 or 20 tons can be thrown up into the air and ripped apart. HOLMES: Concerning — a couple of things that are concerning, it seems to me that there is on unusual level of cooperatio
A shaped charge is, for lack of a better definition, a formed piece of explosive material that is used for cutting through structural material, usually doors, walls and armor. The shape of the charge is usually made up of a metal frame or container that is designed to direct the force of the blast in a single direction, either in a plane or in a straight line, resulting in a cutting effect. Certain shaped charges can also be made with the explosive material itself. Because the force of the explosion only has to move in one direction instead of in a sphere, all of the compound can be spread thinner so as to maximize the effect of the explosion. Examples of shaped charges include small hole punchers and entry charges. A small circular charge can easily be made that will cut a hole in a door or also be used to blow though door hinges or the like, knocking the door open. An entry charge can be a light metal rectangular contraption made of angled iron or steel. The explosive compound is pla
A shaped charge is a way of controlling an explosion in a such a way that most of the explosive force released travels in a straight line towards the target. The technology employed is quite old and involves controlling the explosion in such a way that a conical or concave piece of metal referred to as the “liner” is compressed and squeezed forward in a jet the tip of which may travel as fast as 10 kilometers per second. The technology involved is simple, unsophisticated, very readily available, and very old.
