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Scaled WHA Long Rod Projectile Impact Against an Armour Steel

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Abstract

Ballistic performance of an armour steel against a scaled-down tungsten heavy alloy projectile having an L/D ratio of 14 was investigated. The depth of penetration in the steel target plate was measured for different impact velocities (900–1400 m/s) using scaled-down experimental tests. Penetration velocities were calculated from the measured depth of penetration data using a steady-state relationship, and it is found to have a linear relationship with impact velocity. Using the linear relationship, penetration velocity at a higher impact velocity (1600 m/s) was calculated and was found to be in agreement with the full-scale experimental results for the projectiles with L/D = 16. The relative strength of the target and penetrator (Rt–Yp) was calculated and found to increase initially and then decrease to zero as the impact velocity approaches the hydrodynamic range. Maximum Rt–Yp was observed at a velocity of around 1000 m/s which is close to the critical velocity for commencement of eroding steady-state penetration. Microstructural observations on impacted target and projectiles have shown that both the target as well as penetrator materials undergo erosion during the penetration.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Director DMRL for the encouragement to publish this work. The authors also acknowledge the support rendered by ADDD staff in carrying out the work. The authors wish to express sincere thanks to the reviewer for constructive suggestions.

Funding

The work was supported by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Armour Design and Development Division, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, 500058, India

    P. Ponguru Senthil, P. Rama Subba Reddy, T. Sreekantha Reddy, K. Siva Kumar & Vemuri Madhu

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  1. P. Ponguru Senthil
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  2. P. Rama Subba Reddy
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  3. T. Sreekantha Reddy
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Correspondence to P. Rama Subba Reddy.

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Senthil, P.P., Reddy, P.R.S., Reddy, T.S. et al. Scaled WHA Long Rod Projectile Impact Against an Armour Steel. Hum Factors Mech Eng Def Saf 3, 14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41314-019-0018-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41314-019-0018-4

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