Ballistic performance of tungsten particle / metallic glass matrix composite long rod

In the present manuscript numerical analysis on the ballistic performance of a tungsten particle/metallic glass matrix (WP/MG) composite rod is conducted by integrating with related experimental investigations. In the corresponding finite element method (FEM) simulations a modified coupled thermo-mechanical constitutive model is employed to describe the mechanical properties of metallic glass (MG) matrix, and geometrical models of the WP/MG composite rod are established based on its inner structure. The deformation and failure characteristics of the rod and target materials are analyzed in detail, and the influences of various factors on the ballistic performance of the WP/MG composite long rod are discussed. Related analysis demonstrates that the penetrating performance of the WP/MG rod is similar to that of the tungsten fiber/metallic glass matrix (WF/MG) composite long rod, i.e., a “self-sharpening” behavior also occurs during the penetration process, and correspondingly its penetrating capability is better than that of the tungsten heavy alloy (WHA) rod. However, the mass erosion manner of the WP/MG rod is different and the erosion is relatively severe, thus its penetrating capability is a little lower compared with that of the WF/MG one. Moreover, the impact velocity and the target strength have significant influences on the ballistic performance of the WP/MG composite rod, whereas the effect of initial nose shape is very little.