Using an explosive in a cylinder which has one end as a cone of a suitable material and is detonated from the other end allows the penetration of many times the diameter of the cylinder of materials like concrete or armor. The number of diameters penetrated range from 4 to 12. The cone liner allows the formation of a jet of gas that penetrates the target by putting hundreds of thousands of atmospheres of pressure on it and pushing through it.
Factors affecting shaped charges are many:
- Cone material. Copper is one of the best because it is both ductile and dense. Glass, aluminum & steel are also used.
- Cone angle/shape. For simple cones 42 degrees provides the best penetration.
- Rotation. This degrades the effect even a low speeds.
- Stand off distance. Some is required to allow the jet of penetrating gas time to form but too much and the jet disipates.
- Detonation rate. The faster the explosive detonates the better the effect. If the rate is below 5,000 meter per second the effect is not seen.
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