For the love of God, will someone explain to me how a EFP works?

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm referring to this, the Explosively Formed Penetrator. I've read and read this article, but I can't bend my mind around how the hell it works, and it's really getting to me. For the sake of my sanity, will someone who understands explain to me how this thing works?

 

[Bill3000]

In essense, boom.

 

[skadistic]

It directs the blast in a particular direction. It blows out a projectile that by the force of the explosion shapes the projectile into a form that makes it penetrate better.

Does that help?

 

[GinandTonic]

In essense, boom.

Directed boom. All the boom applied in one spot.

Like, the difference between being hit with a bat and shot isnt the force applied, but the application of the force.

The clever gubbins being that the bugger shapes itself by virtue of the shape of the baseplate or what have you.

 

[Gogf]

Well, I was under the impression that this had to do with actually liquefying the projectile because of an episode of Future Weapons, but this could be totally off base.

 

[skadistic]

Well, I was under the impression that this had to do with actually liquefying the projectile because of an episode of Future Weapons, but this could be totally off base.

Thats a shaped charge. Those are what tanks use. Close but different.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

It directs the blast in a particular direction. It blows out a projectile that by the force of the explosion shapes the projectile into a form that makes it penetrate better.

Does that help?

So how is this different from a shaped charge? I don't see how a concave dome penetrates armor better than liquified metal, or how such a shaped charge would lose less energy flying through the air than a conical shell would.

EDIT: I know what a shaped charge is and how it works, if that helps at all.

 

[nivi]

The point is that EFP travels some distance and still deliver a punch, while shaped charges can't (I think).

 

[skadistic]

So how is this different from a shaped charge? I don't see how a concave dome penetrates armor better than liquified metal, or how such a shaped charge would lose less energy flying through the air than a conical shell would.

EDIT: I know what a shaped charge is and how it works, if that helps at all.

A shaped charge turns the projectile into a stream of molten death. The force penetrator turns a piece of flatish metal into a unstoppable slug. Like the reverse of a hollow point bullet. The EFP isn't better, its cheaper and easier to make. It loses less energy in only that it doesn't travel as far. Its something you blow up feet away instead of a mile like a shell shot SC out of a tank.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

A shaped charge turns the projectile into a stream of molten death. The force penetrator turns a piece of flatish metal into a unstoppable slug. Like the reverse of a hollow point bullet. The EFP isn't better, its cheaper and easier to make. It loses less energy in only that it doesn't travel as far. Its something you blow up feet away instead of a mile like a shell shot SC out of a tank.

All of what you've said is what follows logic, which is where I'm confused. The article said it was designed to engage tanks at stand-off distance.

 

[History_Buff]

Actually, I don't believe it ever truly melts the projectile, mostly because there isn't time. But like the article says, once you apply enough force (in this case inertial force) onto something, it tends to behave differently. Solid Metals become extremely malleable, and these things punch right through it.

There's no real secret to it, other than the shape causes the explosion to push the charge in a single direction, which allows it to reach extremely high speeds (1+ km/s)

 

[History_Buff]

All of what you've said is what follows logic, which is where I'm confused. The article said it was designed to engage tanks at stand-off distance.

Stand off here refers to the fact that the operator of such a device could remotely detonate it from a distance well exceding the range of the vehicle it's blowing up.

 

[skadistic]

*cough* wiki sucks*cough*

If you look at the pic at the top the puff of dirt to the left was the firing spot. Maybe 40 feet at most. Thats "stand off" If you consider most IED are blown up directly under or next to a target.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Stand off here refers to the fact that the operator of such a device could remotely detonate it from a distance well exceding the range of the vehicle it's blowing up.

That's the piece I was missing. Thanks.

 

[skadistic]

Stand off here refers to the fact that the operator of such a device could remotely detonate it from a distance well exceding the range of the vehicle it's blowing up.

Maybe thats what they mean. If it is thats no different then any other IED. The remote detonation thing isn't new. They use cell phones to trigger these things.