Application of steady state maximum entropy methods to high kinetic energyimpacts on ceramic targets

The maximum entropy method is used to investigate the fragmentation and pul verization of ceramics subjected to high energy impacts. Since the exact ph ysical processes that occur during high energy impacts on ceramic targets i s not completely known, the calculation of the details of these interaction s can at best be approximate. However, many of the general features of what will happen are known, such as conservation of energy-momentum and thermod ynamic laws act as constraints on any model. The maximum entropy incorporat es by the method of constraints everything known to be correct into the mod el. The more constrained the system the better the model. Several important developments arise: It is important that the ceramic be confined long enou gh for the ceramic to be pulverized; and there will be, in general, a lower bound on the minimal size of the pulverized ceramics consistent with the p roperties of the ceramic and the kinetic energy of the penetrator. A sample application for a steady state erosion process due to the abrasive ceramic powder acting on the penetrator is discussed. The transfer of energy-momen tum from the penetrator to the ceramic is shown to depend on the degree of pulverization and characteristic frequency associated with the impact event . Improvements and future directions for study are described in the conclus ions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.