Current instability of shaped charge jets

The behavior of shaped charge jets with axial electric current passing through them has been studied. Capacitor bank and small-size explosive flux compression pulsed power generators were used in the experiments. It has been found that when certain values of current, current derivative and the time of electromagnetic action are exceeded, the particulation of the shaped charge jet into separate fragments starts. In the authors´ opinion, the main reason for the particulation is the accelerated growth of initially small perturbations of the shape of lateral surface of the shaped charge jet during the electromagnetic action, which leads to earlier fragmentation of the jet in the experiments with current as compared to that in the tests without current. The experiments have shown that the effects arising in a shaped charge jet when passing the current through it are of interest for minimizing the penetration ability of the jets, as well as for studying the material behavior and physical characteristics of the jets.