Abstract In order to obtain the charge structure of rod-shaped tantalum-tungsten alloy (Ta-W) explosively formed projectile (EFP) with good performance indicators, the LS-DYNA numerical simulation software was used to study the arc-cone liner different charge structure parameters (such as curvature radius, half cone angle and thickness of liner, charge height and shell thickness) on the forming of Ta-W EFP so that the optimal range of each structural parameter was determined. The primary and secondary order of the influence of various structural parameters on the forming performance of Ta-W EFP was obtained by orthogonal optimization design, and the optimized plan of rod-shaped Ta-W EFP was determined (curvature radius of liner is 1.16071D, half cone angle of liner is 68.5°, thickness of liner is 0.02054D, charge height is 0.85714D and shell thickness is 0.08929D, where D is charge diameter). The results show that the performance indicators of the optimized plan of rod-shaped Ta-W EFP are better, whose velocity is 2312m/s, length-to-diameter ratio is 4.41998, compactness is 0.95929 and necking ratio is 0.21109.