The oblique impact of a hard ball against ductile, semi-infinite target materials- experiment and analysis

Abstract

Six ductile target materials were impacted with hardened steel balls over a range of impact velocities (50-200 m s⁻¹) and impact angles (15-90°). The dimensions of the resulting impact craters and also the rebound velocity and angle were experimentally measured. These experimental values were compared with the predictions of a simplified model which assumes a constant dynamic yield pressure and friction coefficient. The model correctly predicts the magnitude of the crater dimensions and volume and also their variation with impact angle and velocity. In contrast, the rebound angle and the energy absorbed per impact are not predicted correctly by the simple model.