On the Oblique Impact of Rigid Spheres at Metallic Targets

We present a numerical study on rigid spheres obliquely impacting thick metallic targets at the ordnance range of impact velocities (up to 2000 m/s). The simulation results were found to follow simple relations for the penetration depths, the ricochet angles, and the exit velocities of the spheres. The residual velocities and exit angles of the ricochetting spheres can be normalized through a threshold ricochet angle, which depends on the physical properties of the sphere/target pair. The simulation results agree with several test data for rigid steel spheres obliquely impacting metals at a large range of impact velocities.