Investigation on the spatial distribution characteristics of behind-armor debris formed by the perforation of EFP through steel target

The behind-armor debris (BAD) formed by the perforation of an EFP is the main damage factor for the secondary destruction to the behind-armor components. Aiming at investigating the BAD caused by EFP, flash X-ray radiography combined with an experimental witness plate test method was used, and the FEM-SPH adaptive conversion algorithm in LS-DYNA software was employed to model the perforation process. The simulation results of the debris cloud shape and number of debris were in good agreement with the flash X-ray radiographs and perforated holes on the witness plate, respectively. Three-dimensional numerical simulations of EFP's penetration under various impact conditions were conducted. The results show that, an ellipsoidal debris cloud, with the major-to-minor axis radio (a/b) smaller than that caused by shaped charge jets, was formed behind the target. With the increase of target thickness (h) and decrease of impact velocity (v0) and obliquity (θ), the value of a/b decreases. The number of debris ejected from target is significantly higher than that from EFP. Based on the statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of the BAD, An engineering calculation model was established considering the influence of h, v0 and θ. The model can with reasonable accuracy predict the quantity and velocity distribution characteristics of BAD formed by EFP.