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Penetration depth is the most important parameter in terminal ballistics. Here only the case of projectiles penetrating granular medium is considered. Laboratory and field tests have shown that projectile characteristics such as mass, size, and nose shape, and target characteristics such as strength and density determine the depth of penetration. Analyses of full flight data recorded by onboard data acquisition system (G-Rec) are presented. These tests have revealed very high decelerations at impact with extensive particle fracture along the path of the projectile. Particle size distribution analysis of the sample collected from the projectile tip shows two to three orders of magnitude reduction in size. For similar impact velocities and target densities, Poncelet's coefficient does not vary with tip shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulations were carried out to study the ballistic resistance of double-layered metal plates subjected to normal impact by the ogive-nose projectiles. 12 mm thick Weldox 460E steel targets consisted of two 6 mm thick plates in contact were impacted by 20 mm diameter ogive-nose projectiles. The caliber radius head (CRH) of ogive-nose projectile was varied (0 - 5.0) and found to have obvious effect on the ballistic limit of 12 mm thick double-layered Weldox 460E steel plates. Double-layered plates were found to be less effective than the equivalent monolithic targets for CRH ≥ 0.5, and more effective with CRH = 0. LS-DYNA finite element code in conjunction with Johnson–Cook elasto-viscoplastic material model was employed to carry out the numerical simulations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the response of modern mobile platforms to ballistic impact is a challenge due to target mobility and inherent structural loads. The present work involves an experimental and numerical analysis of ballistic impact against simulated moving targets that are pre-stressed. Realization of the target movement was achieved by launching an inclined elongated projectile at an oblique target, with equal inclination and obliquity resulting in an experimental set-up corresponding to normal impact of the target plate by the projectile with a transverse velocity component. The present experimental analysis considers impact by a 0.5" calibre projectile against the aluminium target, with the objective to analyze the target damage. The modelling results reasonably agree with the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution describes the concept and numerical simulation of a ballistic protective layer which is able to actively resist projectiles or smaller colliding fragments flying at high speed. The principle of the layer was designed on the basis of the action/reaction system of reactive armour which is used for the protection of armoured vehicles. As the designed ballistic layer consists of steel plates simultaneously combined with explosive material - primary explosive and secondary explosive - the technique of coupling the Finite Element Method with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics was used for the simulations. Certain standard situations which the ballistic layer should resist were simulated. The contribution describes the principles for the successful execution of numerical simulations, their results, and an evaluation of the functionality of the ballistic layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are developing a new diagnostic useful for the non-invasive detection of projectile passage in the launch tube of a gas gun. The sensing element consists of one or more turns of single-mode optical fiber that is epoxy-bonded around the external circumference of the launch tube. The hoop strain induced in the launch tube by the passage of the projectile causes a momentary expansion of the fiber loop. This transient change in path length is detected with high sensitivity using a fiber optic-based interferometer developed by the NSTec Special Technologies Laboratory. We have fielded this new diagnostic, along with fiber optic Bragg grating (FBG) strain gauges we previously used for this purpose, on a variety of gas guns used for shock compression studies at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories.We anticipate that, when coupled with a broad-range analog demodulator circuit, the fiber optic interferometer will have improved dynamic range over that of the FBG strain gauge approach. Moreover, in contrast to the FBG strain gauge which is somewhat temperature sensitive, the interferometric approach requires no alignment immediately prior to the experiment and is therefore easier to implement. Both approaches provide early, pre-event signals useful for triggering high-latency diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation on free-surface impact of projectiles has last for more than one hundred years due to its noticeable significance on improving defensive weapon technology. Laboratory-scaled water entry experiments for trajectory stability had been performed with four kinds of projectiles at a speed range of 20~200 m/s. The nose shapes of the cylindrical projectiles were designed into flat, ogive, hemi-sphere and cone to make comparisons on the trajectory deviation when they were launched into water at a certain angle of 0~20°. Two high-speed cameras positioned orthogonal to each other and normal to the water tank were employed to capture the entire process of projectiles' penetration. From the experimental results, the consecutive images in two planes were presented to display the general process of the trajectory deviation. Compared with the effect of impact velocities and nose shape on trajectory deviation, it merited conclude that flat projectiles had a better trajectory stability, while ogival projectiles experienced the largest attitude change. The characteristics of pressure waves were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the event of high-energy penetrator impact, people involved in battlefield scenarios are exposed to the additional hazard stemming from ultrafine metallic particles, i.e. exposure, inhalation, and respiration of aerolized metals. In order to have reliable quantitative measurement of the aerosol particles generated under controlled impact conditions, an experimental set-up was designed to perform impact tests with light gas-gun in chamber. During the impact events, aerosol particle size distributions and total concentrations were measured with a one-second time resolution. In this study preliminary results relative to high purity copper projectile impact at different velocities are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study a number of experiments were performed by taking high-speed footage of the firing spherical steel bullets at different speeds into Perma-Gel, a new synthetic thermoplastic material touted to exhibit similar properties to ordnance ballistic gelatin. We found that the gel undergoes very large and recoverable elastic deformations, which could strongly affect the dynamics of the temporary cavity formed behind the projectile. As with ordnance ballistic gelatin, the diameter of the temporary cavity can be many times the diameter of the projectile, in contrast with that of the permanent cavity which is several times smaller. We also observed that the closure of the cavity chokes the air inside, which could affect its dynamics in noticeable ways. Finally, one of the experiments suggest that the precise model of material failure may not be important to determine the dynamics of the temporary cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a series of experiments were carried out in which right-circular cylinders were launched into sand targets at velocities ranging from 70 to 150 m/s. The projectiles were launched along a view window in order to record the penetration event with high-speed photography. Stress measurements of the transmitted wave forms were simultaneously collected from a piezoelectric load cells buried in the sand. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, which extracted information from the photographic images, was used to resolve transmitted wave profiles. A two wave structure was observed. The first wave, a compaction wave, moves at the bulk sound speed of the sand. The second is an attached fracture wave which is stationary relative to the projectile. Together these experiments further our understanding of high-speed granular penetration events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration and fragmentation characteristics of spheres made of pressed aluminum powder are studied via normal impact on thin steel plates at 0.6 to 1.8 km/s. Ultra-high speed photography and flash x-rays are used to monitor the formation and evolution of the debris cloud formed by impact. The mass distribution of debris fragments is measured directly via a soft-catch experiment. Experimental results are compared to simple analytic theories of brittle fragmentation and spall. This data aids in understanding the mechanical properties and potential energy release of porous reactive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Speckle Radiography (DSR) is a technique allowing full field displacement maps in a plan within an opaque material to be determined. The displacements are determined by tracking the motions of small sub-sections of a deforming speckle pattern, produced by seeding an internal layer of lead and taking flash x-ray images. An improved DSR algorithm is discussed which can improve the often poor contrast in DSR images, such that the mean and variance of the speckle pattern is uniform. This considerably improves the correlation success relative to other similar algorithms for DSR experiments. A series of experiments involving the penetration of granular media by long-rod projectiles, and the improved correlation achieved using this new algorithm, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten projectiles were shot into sand at velocities between 600 and 2200 m/s. Penetration was maximum at about 775 m/s. Below that velocity, projectiles were apparently stabilized by a fin set. Above that velocity, projectiles were broken by transverse loads. High-speed penetration resulted in comminution of sand particles, reducing their size by about 1000 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a projectile approaches the back surface of a target, complicated mechanics and different failure modes ensue that can lead to perforation. There have been a number of attempts to model these different failure modes, for example models due to Ravid and Bodner [1] and Walker [2]. Of particular interest are analytic models (as opposed to hydrocode models) where the model attempts to explicitly identify relevant failure modes and back surface breakout modes. This paper examines back surface breakout and target failure models with different failure modes to see how they are invoked in specific impact geometries and scenarios. Comparisons are made of thresholds and sensitivities for the different failure modes to gain a greater understanding of their usefulness and applicability. The model results are compared to data to ensure reasonableness of the computations. Good agreement is shown with a relatively simple back-surface-strain target failure mode for predicting ballistic limit velocity for large aspect-ratio projectiles and relatively thick targets as compared to the projectile diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact behaviour of composites is of great importance in the field of aerospace and vehicle protection. The combination of formability, lightness and strength make composite systems attractive compared to equivalent monolithic systems. However, their use as optical components has been hampered by their lack of transparency. Transparency is strongly affected by refractive index differences in the materials that form the composite. In this study a number of ribbon-based composites were produced. The impact velocity, sample deformation during the impact process and residual impactor velocity were measured. This allowed comparison between the materials ballistic efficiency. The materials are then compared to other transparent systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength of glass and glass ceramic was measured with a bar impact technique. High-speed movies show regions of tensile and compressive failure. The borosilicate glass had a compressive strength of at least 2.2 GPa, and the glass ceramic at least 4 GPa. However, the BSG was much stronger in tension than GC. In ballistic tests, the BSG was the superior armor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-velocity impact onto a layered glass target produces a very extensive damage pattern exhibiting many distinct morphologies. High-speed photography reveals failure waves and cracks that move at acoustic velocities. These prompt features evolve into a complex final damage pattern that includes needle fragments around the penetration cavity, radial cracks at mid distance, and dicing cracks near the edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]