Numerical study on the long rod penetration into ceramic target

There are three failure modes for long rod impacting ceramic target at different velocities, that is, interface defeat, dwell transition to penetration, and direct penetration. To study the three failure modes, a numerical model of long rod impacting ceramic armor is constructed with FEM-SPH coupling technique in this study. Compared with the experimental results, the reliabilities of the algorithms, boundary conditions, and material constants in the numerical models have been comprehensively verified. The different processes and damage mechanisms of interface defeat, dwell transition to penetration and direct penetration are simulated and analyzed. By analyzing the ceramic damage during interface defeat and dwell transition to penetration, it is found that the comminuted zone achieving the surface of ceramic, marks the trigger of penetration. Simulations confirm for the first time that the nose shape of the long rod will change during the penetration of ceramics, which leads to the irregular penetration channel inside the ceramics.