The hole diameter in metallic plates impacted by hypervelocity projectiles

•Numerical simulations are compared with models for crater diameter in semi-infinite metallic targets impacted by hypervelocity projectiles.•A numerically based model is proposed for the hole diameter in thin metallic plates impacted by long rods and spheres.•Hypervelocity impact test results are compared with the proposed model's predictions, and the agreement between them is good. The diameter of holes and craters in metallic plates impacted by hypervelocity projectiles is investigated through a series of numerical simulations. We first compare the simulations results with an analytical model for the crater diameter in a semi-infinite target penetrated by a high velocity rod. We then perform further simulations for finite thickness plates, impacted by the same rods, and follow the hole growth process in these plates. Based on these results we construct a numerically-based model which relates the hole diameter in a thin plate with the crater diameter in a semi-infinite target, impacted by the same projectile. The predictions from this model are in good agreement with a large set of data, for the hole diameters in thin plates impacted by hypervelocity spherical projectiles.