On the penetration and perforation of concrete targets struck transversely by ogival-nosed projectiles - a numerical study

•A numerical study has been performed on the penetration and perforation of (reinforced) concrete targets using a recently developed computational constitutive model.•Parametric studies are performed numerically to examine the influences of both impact velocity and concrete target thickness on projectile load-time histories, projectile residual velocities and the target cracking patterns.•The present model predictions are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations in terms of penetration depth, load-time history, residual velocity, impact and scabbing crater size.•The present model predicts better the sizes of both impact and scabbing craters than the modified K&C model and the modified HJC model even though these three models produce more or less similar results for residual velocities. This paper carries out a numerical study on the penetration and perforation of (reinforced) concrete targets subjected to impact by ogival-nosed projectiles at normal incidence. A recently developed computational constitutive model for concrete subjected to dynamic loadings, which takes account of pressure dependency, strain hardening and softening, strain rate effects, Lode effect and failures in both high and low confining pressures, is employed in the numerical simulations. Parametric studies are performed numerically to examine the influences of impact velocity on the load-time histories in the case of semi-infinite concrete targets and the effects of impact velocity and concrete target thickness on the projectile residual velocities and the target cracking patterns in the case of finite reinforced concrete slabs. It transpires that the present model predictions are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations in terms of penetration depth, load-time history, residual velocity, impact cratering and scabbing size and pattern. It also transpires that the present model predicts better the sizes of both impact and scabbing craters than the modified K&C model and the modified HJC model even though these three models produce similar results for residual velocities.