Penetration of confined boron carbide targets by tungsten long rods at impact velocities from 1.5 to 5.0 km/s

Abstract

Forty terminal ballistics experiments were performed to measure the penetration of simple confined boron carbide targets by long tungsten rods. Impact velocities ranged from 1.5 to about 5.0 km/s. The experiments were performed in the reverse ballistic mode using a two-stage light-gas gun. For tests with velocities 1.493 ≤ v ≤ 2.767 km/s, the penetrator diameter was 1.02 mm (0.040 inch). For tests with impact velocities v ≥ 2.778 km/s the penetrator diameter was 0.762 mm (0.030 inch). For tests in the velocity range 2.335 < v < 2.761 km/s both penetrator sizes were used. The length-to-diameter ratio for the penetrator was L D = 20 for all but the three highest velocity tests; in these three tests L D = 15 . Primary instrumentation for these experiments was four independently timed, 450 kV flash X-rays. These X-rays provided four views of the penetrator-target interaction during the penetration event from which the following data were determined: p = penetration depth as a function of time, L r = remaining length of penetrator as a function of time, as well as target hole geometry, spatial distribution of the eroded rod material etc. From these data, u = dp dt = speed of penetration into the target , v c = d(L − L r ) dt = “consumption” rate of the long rod and final penetration depth were obtained.