Fragment mass distribution of platelike objects

The fragment mass distributions of platelike objects are investigated by conducting two types of experiments. The first is a ''sandwich'' experiment in which thin glass and plaster plates are inserted between two larger stainless steel plates and an iron projectile is dropped onto the target plate at normal incidence. The second is a ''lateral impact'' experiment in which a hypervelocity nylon projectile collides at the side of the plaster plates. There is a discrepancy in the power-law exponent of fragment mass distribution between the sandwich experiment and the lateral impact experiment. A model that agrees with the experimental results is proposed.