Simulations of the penetration of 6061-T6511 aluminum targets by spherical-nosed VAR 4340 steel projectiles

In certain penetration events it is proposed that the primary mode of deformation of the target can be approximated by known analytical expressions. In the context of an analysis code, this approximation eliminates the need for discretizing the target as well as the need for a contact algorithm. Thus, this method substantially reduces the computer time and memory requirements. In this paper a forcing function which is derived from a spherical- cavity expansion (SCE) analysis has been implemented in a transient dynamic ®nite element code. This implementation is capable of computing the structural and component responses of a projectile due to a three dimensional penetration event. Simulations are presented for 7.11-mm-diameter, 74.7-mm-long, spherical-nose, vacuum-arc-remelted (VAR) 4340 steel projectiles that penetrate 6061-T6511 aluminum targets. Final projectile con®gurations obtained from the simulations are compared with post-test radiographs obtained from the corresponding experiments. It is shown that the simulations accurately predict the permanent projectile deformation for three dimensional loadings due to incident pitch and yaw over a wide range of striking velocities.