Statistics of Fragment Dispersion by Explosion in a Fragment Generator Warhead

Understanding the dispersion characteristics of fragments is essential for precise planning of the end game and the neutralization of targets using directional fragment generator warheads (FGW). The authors have carried out experiments to study the spatial dispersion of the fragments in two configurations of FGWs having a circular shaped fragment generating surface. In this paper, the dispersion of the fragments is quantified using the mean and standard deviation of the projection angle. Using the Shapiro-Wilk test, it is verified that dispersion in the projection angle follows a normal distribution. The dispersion of the peripheral fragments is higher due to edge effects. A steeper variation in projection angles is observed for fragments placed at a radial distance greater than 0.7 times the explosive charge radius. These observations are in agreement with the results of Held (1988) for a square shaped fragment generating surface.