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Research on the Lethality of 3D-Printed Polypropylene Jets for Micro UAVs
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1.School of Equipment Engineering,Shenyang Ligong University;2.North Hua’an Industrial Group Co,Ltd;3.MOE Key Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering,Ningbo University

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    Abstract:

    Polypropylene (PP) asa low-density polymer material, forms jets with considerable lethality. Micro UAVs with advantages such as low cost, strong adaptability, and rapid response, can significantly enhance combat effectiveness, requiring their warheads to balance lightweighting and destructive performance dual demands. This study explores the application potential of 3D-printed polypropylene as a shaped charge material in the damage field of micro UAV warheads. Micro thin-walled polypropylene shaped charges were prepared using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology, and mechanical property tests were conducted to obtain the mechanical properties of 3D printed PP materials. The Johnson-Cook constitutive model parameters were fitted, and the results indicate that the material features excellent ductility and strain rate sensitivity, with dynamic yield strength significantly increasing as the strain rate rises. The polymer jet formation process was analyzed by combining PER theory and viscoplastic theory, revealing its head expansion characteristics. Static shaped charge penetration tests and numerical simulation were adopted to verify the damage lethality of 3D-printed PP jets at 3-5 CD (CD represents the caliber of the shaped charge). The experimental results show that the effect is optimal at 4 CD, with a penetration depth of 17.10 mm and significant hole expansion. The numerical simulation results indicate a penetration depth of 16.04 mm and an open hole diameter of 7.986 mm, which are highly consistent with the experimental data. The performance of four polymer jets and a copper jet was further analyzed across five distinct dimensions. The research demonstrates that the designed 3D-printed polypropylene shaped charge liner can satisfy the carriage requirements of miniature UAVs, providing a theoretical basis and novel insights for the design of high-lethality micro warhead destruction.

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张舒童,赵爽,郭冬炀,等.微型无人机用3D打印聚丙烯射流毁伤威力研究[J].含能材料,2026,34(2):165-179.
ZHANG Shu-tong, ZHAO Shuang, Guo Dong-yang, et al. Research on the Lethality of 3D-Printed Polypropylene Jets for Micro UAVs[J]. Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials,2026,34(2):165-179.

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History
  • Received:December 26,2025
  • Revised:February 26,2026
  • Adopted:February 11,2026
  • Online: February 12,2026
  • Published: