Simulations of the penetration of 6041-T6511 aluminum targets by spherical-nosed VAR 4340 steel projectiles

In certain penetration events it is proposed that the primary mode of defor mation of the target can be approximated by known analytical expressions. I n the context of an analysis code, this approximation eliminates the need f or discretizing the target as well as the need for a contact algorithm. Thu s, this method substantially reduces the computer time and memory requireme nts. In this paper a forcing function which is derived from a spherical-cav ity expansion (SCE) analysis has been implemented in a transient dynamic fi nite element code. This implementation is capable of computing the structur al and component responses of a projectile due to a three dimensional penet ration event. Simulations are presented for 7.11-mm-diameter, 74.7-mm-long, spherical-nose, vacuum-arc-remelted (VAR) 4340 steel projectiles that pene trate 6061-T6511 aluminum targets. Final projectile configurations obtained from the simulations are compared with post-test radiographs obtained from the corresponding experiments. It is shown that the simulations accurately predict the permanent projectile deformation for three dimensional loading s due to incident pitch and yaw over a wide range of striking velocities. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.