SwRI: Penetration Mechanics. Understanding the mechanics and physics of penetration

 

 

image of long-rod projectile sabot and flash radiograph of sabot opening in flight
 

Long-rod projectile sabot (top) and a flash radiograph of the sabot opening in flight

For more than 30 years, fundamental and applied problems in penetration mechanics have been investigated and solved by engineers at  Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) using an integrated approach, including:

  • Experimentation

  • Numerical simulation

  • Analytical modeling

The penetration mechanics staff is internationally recognized for contributions to fundamental and applied understanding of the mechanics and physics of penetration.


High-speed diagnostics and a wide variety of launchers are used to support experimental studies. Demonstrated capabilities include sabot design and fabrication for a wide range of projectiles from irregular-shaped objects to long rods with high aspect ratios (L/D < 30). A complementary high-rate materials laboratory enables material characterization and determination of computational constitutive constants.

 

image of numerical parametric study of increasing projectile strength: L/D 10 tungsten alloy projectile impacting a hard armor steel target at 1.5 km/s (t = 75 ?s)

Numerical parametric study of increasing projectile strength: L/D 10 tungsten alloy projectile impacting a hard armor steel target at 1.5 km/s (t = 75 ?s)

 

Penetration Mechanics Applications and Experience

  • Low-speed impact

  • Small arms

  • Anti-tank kinetic energy projectiles

  • Advanced penetrator concepts

  • Shaped-charge jet formation and penetration

  • Penetration efficiency assessment

  • Hypervelocity impact

 

Penetration Mechanics Facilities

  • Indoor ballistics range

  • 20/30-mm high-performance gun system

  • 50-mm high-performance cannon (impact velocities up to ~2.0 km/s)

  • Outdoor test areas, up to 1,000 yards

  • Fully equipped instrumentation trailer (high-speed data acquisition of pressure, strain, displacement, etc.)

  • Flash radiography

  • High-speed video (up to 60,000 frames per second)

  • Ultra-high-speed digital imaging (up to 100 million frames per second)

 

image of penetration channel for L/D 30 tungsten-alloy projectile into armor steel target   image of comparison of numerical simulations to experiment of 7.62-mm APM2 bullet impacting B4C/76061-T6 Al armor

Penetration channel for an L/D 30 tungsten-alloy projectile into an armor steel target

  

Comparison of numerical simulations to experiment of a 7.62-mm APM2 bullet impacting (at muzzle velocity) a B4C/6061-T6 Al armor

 

image of normalized penetration efficiency versus impact velocity for 3 different L/D ratio projectiles   image of flash radiograph of armor piercing bullet impacting ceramic/metal substrate target

Normalized penetration efficiency vs. impact velocity for three different L/D ratio projectiles

  

Flash radiograph of armor-piercing bullet impacting a ceramic/metal substrate target


For more information about penetration mechanics capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Charles Anderson, Jr., Ph.D., at canderson@swri.org or (210) 522-2313.

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.