Penetration of 6061-T6511 aluminum targets by ogive-nose steel projectileswith striking velocities between 0.5 and 3.0 km/s

We performed a series of depth-of-penetration experiments using 7.11-mm-dia meter, 71.12-mm-long, ogive-nose steel projectiles and 254-mm-diameter, 606 1-T6511 aluminum targets. The projectiles were made from vacuum-are remelte d (VAR) 4340 steel (R-C 38) and AerMet 100 steel (R-C 53), had a nominal ma ss of 0.021 kg, and were launched using a powder gun or a two-stage, light gas gun to striking velocities between 0.5 and 3.0 km/s. Since the tensile yield strength of AerMet 100 (R-C 53) steel is about 1.5 times greater than VAR 4340 (R-C 38) steel, we were able to demonstrate the effect of project ile strength on ballistic performance. Post-test radiographs of the targets showed three different regions of penetrator response as the striking velo city increased: (1) the projectiles remained rigid and visibly undeformed; (2) the projectiles deformed during penetration without nose erosion, devia ted from the target centerline, and exited the side of the target or turned severely within the target; and (3) the projectiles eroded during penetrat ion and lost mass. To show the effect of projectile strength, we present de pth-of-penetration data as a function of striking velocity for both types o f steel projectiles at striking velocities ranging from 0.5 and 3.0 km/s. I n addition, we show good agreement between the rigid-projectile penetration data and a cavity-expansion model. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.