Analysis of the Influence of Heat and Mechanical Treatment on the Fragmentation of 120 Mm High-Explosive Mortar SHELLS.PART I - Characteristics of Selected 120 Mm Mortar Shells

The research goal of the work was to determine the influence of thermal and mechanical processing on the fragmentation of 120 mm projectiles for Rak self-propelled mortar based on results of dynamic tests over the fragmentation of projectile shells and measurements of number of fragments in individual mass groups. The main issues raised in the work are the tactical and technical requirements that must be met by HE (high explosive) mortar rounds, focusing on the properties that influence the fragmentation process of the projectiles, i.e. the material used for the shell and the explosive material. In order to obtain appropriate data to analyse the topic of the work, it was necessary to investigate prepared samples. The research part includes a ballistic examination of the fragmentation of HE projectile shells made of three types of materials and subjected to various parameters of heat treatment during the production process. The obtained results of ballistic fragmentation tests of mortar shells were used for analysis and enabled comparison of fragmentation characteristics between shells made of different materials and subjected to heat treatment processes. The conducted ballistic test analysis provides data that will contribute to further optimization of the projectile shell structure in order to obtain the desired fragmentation effects. Part I presents an overview of selected 120 mm mortar cartridges with high-explosive (HE) shells.