Perforation mechanisms in thin titanium alloy targets

Abstract

Experiments on the perforation of thin titanium alloy targets by conical and flat-ended penetrators are described. At low impact velocities the conical penetrators cause a plug to be ejected which has a diameter less than the projectile diameter. At higher velocities perforation of the target by the projectile is achieved by dishing in the case of 1 mm thick plates and by the separation and ejection of an annulus of target material for plates of 2 mm or greater thickness. Flat-ended penetrators cause a plug of diameter equal to the projectile diameter to be ejected. The projectile kinetic energies to cause these failures were determined and the results interpreted in terms of simple models for the description of the deformation processes.