Thermomechanics of Impact and Penetration

Abstract

Many kinetic energy missiles are designed to penetrate through concrete targets before the initiation of reaction of energetic materials housed in the missile. Critical loading conditions for the design of such missiles are not the aerodynamic forces but the loading environment during penetration through concrete. At high striking velocities, in the range of 1200-1500 m/sec, sharp noses of steel projectiles are blunted and material is eroded from the nose of the projectile. Melted and refrozen steel are observed on the shank of the projectile. Sections of the steel projectiles, recovered following penetration tests through concrete have displayed heat affected zone, evidence of phase transformation to the gamma phase and melting. An undesirable effect of the nose erosion is the deviation of the trajectory through the concrete from the intended trajectory. The objectives of the research program are to understand the mechanisms responsible for the nose erosion of kinetic energy projectiles during impact and penetration through different targets like concrete, soil and metal at high striking velocities in the range of 1200-1500 meters per second and use the understanding to design materials and structure of the kinetic energy projectiles.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 31, 2003
Accession Number
ADA427200

Entities

People

  • Sathya H. Hanagud

Organizations

  • Georgia Tech

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Forces
  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Energetic Materials
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Heat Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Kinetic Energy Projectiles
  • Materials
  • Mechanics
  • Phase Transformations
  • Propellants
  • Shear Stresses
  • Shock Waves
  • Thermodynamics
  • Thermomechanics
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Missile Defense Systems.