Simulation Analysis of Penetration Performance of Tungsten Alloy and Tungsten Carbide Rod Penetrator

Abstract

In penetration mechanics, the material parameters of the rod penetrator are very important factors which influence the effect of penetration. The effect of each parameter changes with the impact velocity. Simulation analysis of two models filled with tungsten alloy and tungsten carbide separately penetrating semi-infinite armor steel target at medium to high velocities has been made to quantitatively analyze the key roles that the density and hardness play. Simulation results indicate that a dividing line of velocity exists between the penetrations of two materials. Above the line, tungsten alloy rod with greater density has a distinct advantage with increasing velocity. Below the line, the advantage of tungsten carbide rod with greater hardness is significantly more with the decreasing velocity. In the process of penetration, penetration velocity decreases rapidly from a high value to zero. The simulation result provides quantitative analytic basis which can be used to prove that the penetrator composed of two different materials is better than the one composed of homogenous material.