Numerical simulations on long rods and segmented rods penetrating into steel targets

Numerical simulations were conducted on the penetration of the long rod with the length-radial ratio of 5, the ideal segmented rod and the segmented rod with a carrier tube into semi-infinite steel targets, respectively, by using the software ANSYS/LS-DYNA3D. The Lagrangian method and Johnson-Cook constitutive model were coupled in the numerical simulations. The von Misese stress contours were given at the typical times during the penetration and the penetration performances of these rods were compared. Comparison shows that the dominant contribution to the depth of penetration (DOP) of the segmented rod is due to the phase III non-steady stage rather than the phase II quasi-steady penetration stage in the long-rod penetration. The interspacing of the segmented rods has a significant impact on the DOP, while the carrier tube only contributes to the increase of the crater diameter.