The influence of plate hardness on the ballistic penetration of thick steel plates

Abstract

This investigation describes and analyses the experimental results pertinent to the penetration of steel plates of varying hardness in the range HV295-HV520 and of thickness 20 and 80 mm by ogive-shaped 20-mm-diameter projectiles over the velocity range 300-800 m s⁻¹. All the tests were carried out at normal impact angle, i.e. zero obliquity. The experimental results presented include the variation of depth of penetration, crater volume, lip height, bulge height and diameter, plugged length and diameter and specific energy absorption capacity with impact velocity for tests on each plate of a given hardness and thickness. Selected data and observations relating to the plastic zone size and shape surrounding the penetrating projectile, incidence and extent of adiabatic shear band (ASB) formation and plate spalling have also been presented. These experimental data have been interpreted in terms of the appropriate penetration mechanisms like ductile hole formation, bulging followed by star cracking, ASB-induced shear plugging, etc., and also by making use of the fact that the projectile undergoes substantial deformation when penetrating the harder plates (HV450 and HV520). It is also demonstrated that the resistance to penetration and hence the mechanism of penetration is very much dependent on whether the penetration occurs under plane strain or plane stress conditions. For example, ASB-induced plugging occurs only under plane stress conditions while projectile deformation is dominant only under plane strain conditions even in harder plates.