Target strength effect on penetration by shaped charge jets

A limit of the applicability of the hydrodynamic theory was determined for penetration into targets of finite strength. At impact velocities below a limiting velocity, the target strength cannot be considered negligible. The limiting velocity is dependent on the target hardness and density. For the high-hardness aluminum and titanium alloys used in this paper, the limiting velocity, about 3.0 km/s, was found to lie in the range of velocities typical of shaped charge jets. Penetration into the aluminum and titanium alloys by portions of the jet with velocities below 3 km/s was studied experimentally; the depths of penetration were found to be significantly smaller as compared to the hydrodynamic predictions. This deviation has been attributed to the target strength effect.