Investigation on the penetration of jacketed rods with striking velocities of 0.9–3.3 km/s into semi-infinite targets

In this study, a combined experimental, numerical and theoretical investigation is conducted on the penetration of semi-infinite 4340 steel targets by a homogeneous 93W rod and two types of jacketed rods with striking velocities of 0.9–3.3 km/s. The results show that the jacketed rods produced typical “co-erosion” damage at all test velocities, except for the 93W/1060Al jacketed rod, which switched from an early “bi-erosion” damage to later “co-erosion” damage at a striking velocity of 936 m/s. However, the homogeneous 93W rod always forms a large mushroom head during the penetration process. The damage mechanisms of these two types of jacketed rods differ for striking velocities of 0.9–2.0 km/s, but this difference gradually decreases with increased striking velocity. For velocities of 2.0–3.3 km/s, all three types of projectiles exhibit typical hydrodynamic penetration characteristics, and the damage mechanisms of the two types of jacketed rods are almost identical. For the same initial kinetic energy, the penetration performance of the jacketed rods is distinctly superior to that of the homogeneous 93W rods. Compared with jacket density, jacket strength shows a more significant influence on the damage mechanism and penetration performance of the jacketed rod. Finally, an existing theoretical prediction model of the penetration depth of jacketed rods on semi-infinite targets in the co-erosion mode is modified. It transpires that—in terms of penetration depth—the modified theoretical model is in good agreement with the experimental and numerical observations for 93W/TC4 and 93W/1060Al jacketed rods penetrating semi-infinite 4340 steel targets.