PENETRATION OF CONFINED SILICON-CARBIDE TARGETS BY TUNGSTEN LONG RODSAT IMPACT VELOCITIES FROM 1.5 TO 4.6 KM S/

A series of 27 terminal ballistics experiments were performed to measu re the penetration of long tungsten rods against confined silicon carb ide targets. Impact velocities ranged from 1.5 to about 4.6 km/s. The experiments were performed in the reverse ballistic mode using a two-s tage light-gas gun. Penetrator diameter, D, was 0.762 mm (0.030 in). T he length to diameter ratio for the penetrator was L/D = 20 for nearly all the tests and never less than L/D = 15. Primary instrumentation f or these experiments was four independently timed, 450 kV flash X-rays . These X-rays provided four views of the penetrator-target interactio n during the penetration event from which the following data were dete rmined: p = penetration depth as a function of time, L(r) = remaining length of penetrator as a function of time, as well as target hole geo metry, spatial distribution of the eroded rod material, etc. From thes e data u = dp/dt = speed of penetration into the target, v(c) = d(L - L(r))/dt = speed of ''consumption'' of the long rod, were obtained, as well as final penetration depth. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.