Research of the electrothermic action on shaped charge jet in the passive electromagnetic armor

To enhance protective effect of passive electromagnetic armor (PEA), the electrothermic action mechanism on the shaped charge jet (SCJ) in the PEA was researched. By building the kinematic model of uniformly elongating SCJ, and combined with the equivalent circuit model and action time model, coupled analysis model of electrothermic action on uniformly elongating SCJ in the PEA was established. Compared the static simulation results with the testing results, correctness of the coupled analysis model was proved. Consequently, feasibility of using temperature field to predict copper rod phase transition and electrical explosion was certified. Finally, electrothermic action on the SCJ in PEA was analyzed and temperature distribution of the SCJ at different velocities was obtained. It can be seen from the results, as a result of electrothermic action, drastic temperature change and phase transition even electrical explosion will occur when the SCJ penetrate the PEA. The liquefaction occurs in the middle of the SCJ whose velocity is about 5.8km/s, while the gasification occurs in the SCJ tail whose velocity is less than 4.5km/s. The analysis results indicate the significance of electrothermic action and the effect of temperature, which provides a research base for the optimization of PEA.