OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE PENETRATION MECHANICS OF TUBULAR HYPERVELOCITY PENETRATORS

The work reported here concerns the penetration mechanics of hypervelocity tubular penetrators. The results of analytical modeling, hydrocode calculations and terminal ballistic tests of the normal impact and penetration of hypervelocity tubular projectiles are compared. A steady-state penetration process with constant penetration velocity is observed in many cases. The penetration efficiency (penetration depth per consumed penetrator length) in a steady-state process is dependent on the ratio of inner to outer tube diameter, on the ratio of tube material to target material density and on impact velocity. For normal impact, penetration efficiency is generally at least as high as that of a solid rod with equal length, equal outer diameter. equal mass and equal velocity.