Penetration of concrete targets with ogive-nose steel rods

We conducted depth of penetration experiments in concrete targets with 3.0 caliber-radius-head, steel rod projectiles. The concrete targets with 9.5 mm diameter limestone aggregate had a nominal unconfined compressive strength of 58.4 MPa (8.5 ksi) and density 2320 kg/m3. To explore geometric projectile scales, we conducted two sets of experiments. Projectiles with length-to-diameter ratio of ten were machined from 4340Rc 45 steel, round stock and had diameters and masses of 20.3 mm, 0.478 kg and 30.5 mm, 1.62 kg. Powder guns launched the projectiles to striking velocities between 400 and 1200 m/s. For these experiments, penetration depth increased as striking velocity increased. When depth of penetration data was divided by a length scale determined from our model, the data collapsed on a single curve. Thus, a single dimensionless penetration depth versus striking velocity prediction was in good agreement with the data at two geometric projectile scales for striking velocities between 400 and 1200 m/s. In addition, we conducted experiments with AerMet 100Rc 53 steel projectiles and compared depth of penetration and post-test nose erosion data with results from the 4340Rc 45 steel projectiles.