The penetration crater characteristics of thick steel plate impacted by tungsten alloy projectiles

The mild steel target plates impacted vertically by tungsten spherical projectiles with different initial velocities and projectile diameters were studied by ballistic experiments and numerical simulation. The macroscopic properties of the penetration crater were analyzed by the depth, diameter, and overall shape of the crater. The results show that crater diameter and depth increase as initial velocity or projectile diameter increases. With the increase in velocity, the deformation and erosion of tungsten projectiles significantly increased. Specific kinetic energy is used to normalize the velocity and size of the projectile, the expression of crater depth and diameter varying with specific kinetic energy is given, which accuracy R² is 0.8. Based on THOR theory and experimental data, the accurate calculation model of penetration depth versus projectile mass, initial velocity, and the area of the contact was obtained, with an accuracy of R² of 0.97.