Research of the Interaction of Steel Spherical Impactor with an Aluminum Alloy Targets

The paper presents the results of numerical studies of perforation of mono-lithic aluminum target with 1.27-mm-steel sphere. This paper attempts to study the effect of a twofold increase in the yield strength, spall strength and specific work of shear plastic deformations on the process of penetration at 460 m/s to 700 m/s. The behavior of materials was described by complex model of continuum mechanics. A deterministic model of failure materials was used. When materials fail, fractures of the spall and shear type occur. 2D finite-element model was developed and validated for simulation perforation of deformable striker and targets. The results of numerical simulation was compared with data of ballistics test and analytic solution of Rankine-Hugoniot. Finite-element models in Impact 2D reproduced fundamental features of perforation event and the sphere residual velocity in good agreement with the experimental results. It was found that maximum effect on perforation process have been influenced by twofold of yield strength of material. At velocity 460 m/s, 20% reduction in residual sphere velocity, prolongation of perforation time, increase of outlet diameter, were obtained.