Finite Element Analysis of M15 and M19 Mines Under Wheeled Vehicle Load

Unfuzed M15 and M19 mines are present in different proving grounds and test ranges, both as intended and unintended targets for testing of various munitions and weapon systems. There is a concern that these unfuzed mines may be accidentally driven over by various Army vehicles HMMW, Bobcats, etc.. Composition B is typically the explosive found in these mines and also in many gun launched projectiles i.e., 155-mm artillery, 3O-mm grenades, and 1O5-mm projectiles. The gun launched projectiles subjects the Composition B explosives to significantly higher shock and stress levels than loading from a vehicle wheel. The purpose of this study is to use Finite Element codes to determine the stress levels in the mine due to simplified vehicle loading scenarios and compare them to the stress seen in gun launched projectiles. This data and analyses together with assessments from other Subject Mauer Experts should provide sufficient evidence that accidentally driving a vehicle over either unfuzed M15 or M19 mines would not be a safety hazard.