The study of penetration by a shaped charge jet is of great importance, in respect of both military and civil applications. The latter include the oil industry, ejector seat mechanisms, and also civil engineering work such as the decommissioning of large structures.

A shaped charge is an explosive device in which a metal shell called a liner, often conical or hemispherical, is surrounded by a high explosive charge, enclosed in a steel casing. When the explosive is detonated, the liner is ejected as a very high velocity jet which has great penetrative power. The ultimate aim is to optimize the shaped charge geometry so as to achieve the required crater in any given target configuration. Accurate analytical models are an essential tool for such problems. To derive such models, this Faraday Partnership project will develop a better understanding of (i) how the shaped charge jet behaves between its inception and the first impact with the target and (ii) the behaviour of the jet and target (which is also usually a metal) after impact.