Effect of Temperature on the Process of Hypervelocity Gouging

Abstract

The sliding interface of a flyer/target system is subject to immense forces caused by dynamic loads and impact of the flyer with the target. In addition, tremendous heating caused by aerodynamic and frictional effects is produced at the interface. The buildup of the temperature caused by external heat sources is important for an understanding of any impact environment between the flyer and the target. Under these severe loading conditions the material in both the flyer and the target will experience large unstable nonlinear deformations known as gouging. To successfully model the gouging phenomenon, the tangential impact and thermal heating caused by aerodynamic flow and frictional heating must be properly handled. Previous gouging analysis has not accounted for thermal profiles present in the system prior to impact. The hydrocode CTH is employed to solve the gouging problem through the proper modeling of the applicable physics. Results of simulated gouges at elevated temperatures are presented along with a discussion of the mechanics involved and the influence of elevated temperature states.