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Shaped Charges and Explosively Formed Projectiles

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Ryan's Ballistic Trauma

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Abstract

Detonation of a high explosive (HE) material in air results in an omnidirectional blast wave. By confining the HE in a container and shaping the exposed end, the blast wave can be focused in a specific direction: this is generically referred to as a “shaped charge” (SC).1-3 By inlaying a solid “liner” material into the shaped explosive, detonation results in the formation of a high-velocity projectile. In a SC, the liner shape is usually a cone, although that can vary depending on the desired projectile. Figure 8.1 is a typical construction of a shaped charge.

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Acknowledgement

An earlier version of this chapter was published as Morrison JJ, Mahoney PF, Hodgetts T. Shaped charges and explosively formed penetrators: background for clinicians. JR Army Med Corps. 2007;153(3):184-187 and material is used with permission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Southern General Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK

    Jonathan Morrison

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  1. Jonathan Morrison
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  2. Peter F. Mahoney
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Correspondence to Jonathan Morrison .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Surgery, Div. Traumatology &, University of Pennsylvania Medical Ctr., Spruce St. 3400, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Adam J. Brooks

  2. , Academic Department of Military Surgery, Frimley Park Foundation Trust, Surrey, GU16 7UJ, United Kingdom

    Jon Clasper

  3. Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Institute of Research & Development, Acad. Dept. of Military Surgery & Trauma, Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Mark Midwinter

  4. Birmingham Research Park, Acad. Dept. of Military Emergency Med., Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Timothy J. Hodgetts

  5. Inst. Research & Development, Dept. Military Anaesthesia, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Peter F. Mahoney

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Morrison, J., Mahoney, P.F. (2011). Shaped Charges and Explosively Formed Projectiles. In: Brooks, A., Clasper, J., Midwinter, M., Hodgetts, T., Mahoney, P. (eds) Ryan's Ballistic Trauma. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-124-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-124-8_8

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-123-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-124-8

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