Observation of compressibility-related effects in shaped charge jet penetration

Penetration results are reported for four low strength materials attacked by a non-precision, copper-shaped charge jet. The materials are methanol, Plexiglas, glycerol, and mild steel. The results are not entirely consistent with the recent compressibility-based predictions by B. S. Haugstad and O. S. Dullum [J. Appl. Phys. 52, 5066 (1981)] and by N. A. Zlatin and A. A. Kozhushko [Combust. Explos. Shock Waves USSR 16, 559 (1980)]. Methanol and Plexiglas have extraordinary penetration resistance due to a combination of shock wave formation, plastic flow resistance, vaporization, and decomposition. The more chemically stable glycerol has simpler behavior that is similar to mild steel.