An experimental study on the shattering behavior of a high strength armour steel under blast and long rod penetrator impact

Armour steel plates with drilled holes are filled with explosive and subjected to single or multiple blasts to induce shattering. The critical diameter for shattering under explosive detonation, found from the experiments matches closely with that of the long rod penetrator impacted plates. The damage pattern and fracture surface of the tested samples under blast effect have been compared with plates impacted with long rod penetrators for matching the observed shattering behavior. Difference in the shattering behavior of the armour steel subjected to single and multiple blasts has also been presented.