Experimental studies on structural response and mass loss of high-velocity projectiles penetrating into reinforced concrete targets

A high-velocity earth-penetrating structural projectile is designed, and experiments of projectiles with mass of 0.15 and 1.5 kg and impact velocity ranging from 1030 to 1630 m/s are carried out. The projectile structural response, mass loss and critical survival velocity for projectile in high-velocity condition are discussed. The results show that the three failure mode of projectile in high velocity penetration condition are head eroding plus parietal ablation, bending/tail crushing, and structure crushing, and the head eroding and mass loss increase with impact velocity.