TARGET RESISTANCE FOR LONG-ROD PENETRATION INTO SEMIINFINITE TARGETS

An important parameter in the one-dimensional modified-Bernoulli penetration theory of Tate is the target resistance R(t). In the model, it is assumed that R(t) remains constant during the total penetration event. In this paper, a parametric study using the Tate model is used to show that the total depth of penetration is sensitive to the value of R(t). Time-resolved depth-of-penetration experiments and numerical simulations are used to examine R(t) as a function of penetration depth for long-rod tungsten-alloy projectiles impacting semi-infinite targets of S-7 steel and a titanium alloy. It is found in these studies that R(t) changes considerably during penetration and that the values which are used in predicting penetration performance must be considered to be an average value over the entire penetration profile.