Dependence of debris cloud formation on projectile shape

Abstract

A two‐stage lights‐gas gun has been used to impact thin zinc bumpers by zinc projectiles over the velocity range of 2.4 km/s to 6.7 km/s to determine the propagation characteristics of the impact generated debris. Constant‐mass projectiles in the form of spheres, discs, cylinders, and rods were used in these studies. Radiographic techniques were employed to record the debris cloud generated upon impact and the dynamic formation of the resulting rupture in an aluminum backing plate resulting from the loading of the debris cloud. The characteristics of the debris cloud generated upon impact is found to depend on the projectile shape. The data indicate that the debris front velocity is independent of the shape of the projectile, whereas the debris lateral/radial velocity is strongly dependent on projectile geometry. Spherical impactors generate the most radially dispersed debris cloud while the normal plate impactors result in column‐like debris. It has been observed that the debris generated by the impact of thin plates on a thin bumper shield is considerably more damaging to a backwall than the debris generated by an equivalent‐mass sphere.