Debris clouds generated by hypervelocity impact of cylindrical projectiles with thin aluminum plates

Abstract

Orthogonal, flash x rays were used to observe the debris clouds produced by the hypervelocity impact of cylindrical aluminum projectiles with thin aluminum sheets or bumpers. Three major structural features were observed in the debris clouds--a front cone, a bulbous main debris cloud, and an inner cone. Inclination of the projectile at impact changed the orientation of these features and the severity of damage to the rear wall of a double-sheet structure; projectiles with the greatest inclination produced the most damage. Two experiments, using aluminum and copper as projectile and target or target and projectile, respectively, were performed to determine the source of material in each of the three structural features of the debris clouds. The front cone and main cloud were shown to consist of bumper debris while the inner cone was composed of projectile fragments.