PC3800 Survey of Weapons and their Effects

Physics and chemistry of explosives including enthalpy and oxygen balance calculations. Detonation/deflagration waves within energetic materials. Material response to elastic, plastic, and shock impact conditions. Interior, exterior, and terminal ballistics (including armor design).  Shape charges and explosively formed penetrators. Directed energy weapons including fundamentals of solid state lasers and atmospheric effects on laser propagation.  Chemical and nuclear warhead design and effects.

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0

Course Learning Outcomes

• Determine the energy release and oxygen balance from an explosive chemical formula
• Understand material response to elastic, plastic, and shock impacts
• Understand interior, exterior, and terminal ballistics
• Understand the basic principles of solid-state lasers and propagation issues related to atmospheric effects
• Understand the basic physics related to both fission and fusion nuclear bombs, design of nuclear weapons, and related damage mechanisms
• Understand the design of chemical warheads and the lethality of each type