Modeling on mass loss and nose blunting of high-speed penetrator into concrete target

Mass loss and nose blunting of the projectile are often observed in high-speed penetration into concrete target. A new theoretical model is established to present the process of mass abrasion of projectile during penetration and to predict the mass loss and nose shape of the residual projectile after penetration. In order to better describe the effect of aggregate on the mass abrasion of penetrator, both the aggregate volume fraction and its shear strength are introduced into the present model. In the present model, the caliber-radius-head value of projectile nose is a key parameter and the mass loss and nose shape of projectile can be obtained easily only by solving a differential equation for the caliber-radius-head value and the penetrating velocity v, which is much more convenient than the incremental calculation and all other methods of mass receding of projectile outer surface. The calculation results show a good agreement with experimental results. According to the present model of mass abrasion, the depth of penetration of projectile and its acceleration curve during penetration are further calculated by considering the effects of mass loss and nose blunting of projectile.