Hypervelocity Penetration Impacts in Concrete Targets
Abstract
Electromagnetic launch offers the acceleration of projectiles to velocities larger than those provided by conventional chemical guns. The potential effect of large-impact energies on targets other than armor has great promise for replacing high-explosive (HE) payloads with inert hypervelocity rounds. A double-layer reinforced concrete (DLRC) wall, which has been reduced in scale, was the target. Tests were conducted with aluminum cylindrical projectiles launched at velocities up to 2,223 m/s for a 46-g slug and 1,462 m/s for a 92-g slug. Data concerning the muzzle velocity and target damage were recorded. Additionally, the residual penetration into an aluminum plate was recorded. The diameter of the hole in the concrete target increased form 100 mm to the full lateral dimension of the target (450 mm), with increasing impact velocity. The data suggest that there was increased damage to the concrete target by an impact from a hypervelocity slug, as compared to an equal-energy impact at ordnance velocity. Although residual penetration was minimal with the smaller projectile, additional engineering and tests with a bimetallic slug may be able to balance terminal performance and further demonstrate the utility of hypervelocity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA368858
Entities
People
- Alexander E. Zielinski
- Graham F. Silsby
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory