Analytical Prediction of Hole Diameter in Thin Plates Due to Hypervelocity Impact of Spherical Projectiles

William H Jolly,William P Schonberg

doi:10.1155/1997/234341

William H Jolly, William P Schonberg

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/1997/234341

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Journal: Shock and Vibration	Publication Date: Jan 1, 1997
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Abstract

A first-principles-based model is presented for calculating the hole diameter resulting from the normal hypervelocity impact of a spherical aluminum projectile on a thin aluminum plate. One-dimensional shock theory is used to predict the creation and attenuation of Hugoniot pressures along the plate surface. Pressures are translated into the plate thickness by calculating intersecting positions of advancing shock fronts and centered-fan rarefaction waves. The radial position at which the shock pressure equals a predetermined value is defined to be the hole diameter. The model was calibrated by determining this critical value for aluminum-an-aluminum impacts using several hundred data points. A residuals analysis indicated some inherent problems with the model. Two empirical factors were added to account for thin plate and two-dimensional shock dissipation effects. The predictions of the adjusted model are shown to compare well with predictions of several empirical hole diameter models.

Highlights

The study of hypervelocity impacts against aluminum structures has its genesis in the early days of the space program
A one-dimensional formulation has been developed to predict the diameter of the hole created in a thin plate that has been impacted by a spherical projectile
This was accomplished by modeling the creation and attenuation of the Hugoniot impact pressure in a radial direction along the plate surface

Summary

Introduction

The study of hypervelocity impacts against aluminum structures has its genesis in the early days of the space program. There exists a need to develop an analytical hole diameter model for the high speed impact of a spherical projectile on a thin plate. In an attempt to address this need, this paper presents the development of an first-principles-based hole diameter model for the high speed impact of a spherical aluminum projectile on a thin aluminum target plate.

Results

Conclusion