Hydrocode results for the penetration of continuous, segmented and hybrid rods compared with ballistic experiments

Abstract

Hydrocode calculations of the penetration of various tungsten alloy and stainless steel rod penetrators into semi-infinite steel and aluminum targets are presented and compared with results from ballistic experiments. Good agreement with experimental results is seen for penetration depth, penetration with time, and crater size and profile. The rod penetrator configurations investigated in the calculations include: idealized segmented rods with various segment spacings, the corresponding hybrid rods with axial spacers, and continuous rods of various dimensions. The Eulerian hydrocode results show enhanced penetration performance for idealized segmented rods compared with the parent continuous rods. Penetration performance for the corresponding hybrid segmented rods is significantly greater, even after accounting for the added mass of axial spacers. Results for long rod penetrators of the same mass and length as the hybrid rods, provide evidence that the axial spacers contribute to penetration. Both calculations and experiment show significant differences between the crater profiles of continuous versus ideal segmented or hybrid rods. The profiles generated by continuous rods are smooth, while those by segmented and hybrid rods are scalloped. Hydrocode results show that the scalloped crater profiles arise from successive impacts of rod segments.