Energy-Efficient Penetration of Targets

Abstract

In general, the performance of a kinetic energy (KE) penetrator against most armor targets increases with velocity regardless of the particular penetrator/target interaction mode. It is possible to show that there exists an optimum velocity which maximizes the performance of an impacting penetrator for a given expenditure of energy. Simple graphical methods are described that determine the optimum velocity from general performance/velocity plots. These graphic methods may also be applied to experimental data alone. In addition, simple analytic models which describe the velocity dependent penetration/ perforation performance of KE penetrators are examined and extended. These models may be used to assess explicitly the influence of parameters such as target strength and density, and penetrator mass, strength, and density. For some models in this analysis, the explicit relations between the optimum striking velocity for a specified KE value and the penetrator/target parameters are described.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA232227

Entities

People

  • John A. Zook
  • Konrad Frank

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Conductive Polymers
  • Differential Equations
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Experimental Data
  • Flow
  • Hypervelocity Impact
  • Impact
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Materials
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Projectiles
  • Resistance
  • Security
  • Steady Flow
  • Tungsten Alloys

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Metallurgy