OPTIMUM THICKNESS RATIO OF TWO SPACED PLATE SYSTEM AGAINST HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT

Abstract

Analysis of two spaced aluminum plates against hypervelocity impact of a spherical aluminum projectile was performed to find an optimum thickness ratio of two plates. The smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) scheme used here is especially effective since the major features of debris clouds between two plates are successfully captured. For systematical analysis the extent of debris clouds is first correlated as a function of sphere diameter to front plate thickness ratio, with which a potential optimum front plate thickness range is identified. Then a critical sphere diameter causing failure of rear wall is examined while keeping the total thickness of two plates constant. In fact an optimum thickness ratio exists and is examined as a function of the size combination of the sphere diameter and plate thicknesses. The debris cloud expansion correlated optimum thickness ratio study provides a good insight on the hypervelocity impact onto spaced target system.