Hydrocode numerical modeling of projectile impact on moving aluminum targets

Abstract

This paper deals with the investigation of high velocity normal impacts of a rigid cylindrical projectile on moving aluminum plates. The targets are supported with mixed boundary conditions which permit their rigid body motion in the plane perpendicular to the initial striker’s trajectory with a predetermined initial velocity. A 3D numerical modeling procedure based on the finite difference method is implemented for this problem with the ANSYS AUTODYN hydrocode. The Johnson-Cook plasticity and damage models are used for the aluminum target. The numerical modeling is validated through suitable comparisons with experimental data concerning stationary targets. The effect of striker’s and target’s initial velocities is studied on the projectile’s trajectory and the striker’s energy loss after the full perforation of the target. It is found that the energy loss of the striker’s kinetic energy is higher for relatively higher values of the projectile’s velocity. The striker’s energy loss decreases as the velocity of the target increases. Diagrams of the energy time-histories of the striker-target system are constructed for different initial velocities of the plate and the projectile. It is observed from these diagrams that the internal energy of the plate depends mainly on the plastic work.