Numerical analysis of high density alloys and elongated projectiles’ velocity and strength effect on their penetration into a steel target

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MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE
SOLID BODY
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF HIGH DENSITY ALLOYS
AND ELONGATED PROJECTILES’ VELOCITY AND STRENGTH EFFECT
ON THEIR PENETRATION INTO A STEEL TARGET
S.V. Fedorov1 , V.A. Veldanov1 , V.E. Smirnov2
1Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
e-mail: ;
2Federal State-Funded Institution of Science Mechanical Engineering
Research Institute, Moscow, Russian Federation
e-mail:
The paper considers the impact of velocity and material strength of the elongated
projectiles made of high-density alloy on their penetration into a semi-infinite steel
target. The numerical simulation of a two-dimensional axisymmetric problem of the
continuum mechanics is provided. Projectile velocity is in the range from 1400 to
2000 mps and corresponds to the hydrodynamic mode of interaction with reduction
of the projectile length during the penetration process as a result of its material
spreading. The calculations are made with the help of the developed free Lagrangian
points computational algorithm, which allows us to simulate material response under
the conditions of explosive and shock loading. It was found out that dependence of
the projectile penetration on the projectile material yield strength is nonmonotonic
and has an extremum corresponding to penetration depth maximum. While projectile
velocity is increasing the extremum is getting less defined and is shifting towards
higher values of the yield strength.
Keywords: numerical simulation, elongated projectile, heavy alloy, steel target, high
velocity penetration, hydrodynamic mode.
Continuum mechanics numerical methods is an effective tool for
analyzing a high-velocity impact interaction of the materials [1]. This
article presents the results obtained during the numerical analysis of the
elongated projectile velocity and the impact of the tensile strength on
high-strength steel target penetration. Calculations were considered for
initial velocities in the range from 1400 mps to 2000 mps which determines
a hydrodynamic mode of the projectile penetration [2, 3]. In this mode
projectile material spreads along the target contact boundary since its
strength is significantly lower than mechanical stress in the contact area.
The projectile length is reducing to almost zero during the penetration
(the projectile “wears away”) [4, 5]. The analysis was carried out for
rod-shaped projectiles made of high-density materials providing a highly
effective penetration.
When a cylinder-shaped axissymmetrical projectile interacts with a
target along its front surface normal, this continuum mechanical problem
can be considered as a two-dimensional axissymmetrical problem. In a
cylindrical coordinate system (r, z ), both the motion and the state of the
ISSN 0236-3941. HERALD of the BMSTU Series “Mechanical Engineering”. 2015. No. 1 65