The Gurney Formula: Variations on a Theme by Lagrange

Abstract

The Gurney formula for predicting the velocity of fragments from bombs and artillery shells is shown to be modelled after the interior ballistic problem of Lagrange. Though the model differs significantly from the real situation for the interaction of a detonating charge with the metal case, the resulting simple equation gives a fairly good prediction of mean fragment velocity. It is shown that the accuracy of the prediction can be improved by altering one constant term in the equation. Experimental results on the velocity of fragments and on the velocity of expansion of metal cylinders are analyzed. A new set of Gurney constants is given for the ten most frequently used explosives for both the original formula and the proposed modified form. Precautions which must be taken in defining the Gurney constant and in applying the equation are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 21, 1974
Accession Number
AD0783941

Entities

People

  • Sigmund J. Jacobs

Organizations

  • Naval Ordnance Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Detonations
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equations
  • Explosions
  • Explosive Charges
  • Explosives
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Munitions
  • Ordnance Laboratories
  • Specific Volume
  • Steady State
  • Two Dimensional
  • Waves

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Rocket Propulsion.