Experimental and analytical study of behind armor debris after perforation of a steel plate by an AP projectile

Characterization of behind armor debris (BAD) is of utmost importance from the aspect of evaluation of an armor piercing projectile efficiency, as well as from the point of target vulnerability. The focus of the study is on the size, shape, total number, mass and velocity of fragments generated from the target plate. The experimental results of perforation of 6.35 mm thick steel plates by 12.7 mm armor-piercing projectile have been reported. Projectile impact and residual velocity were measured by the muzzle velocity radar system and make-up screens, respectively. The mass and shape distribution of a generated BAD cloud and its energetic properties were determined using the calibrated witness pack. The proposed analytical model of the problem is based on the energy conservation, fracture mechanics and fragmentation theory. A good agreement is observed between calculated results and experimental data in terms of the shape, characteristic size, mass and velocity distribution of generated fragments.