Soil–projectile interactions during low velocity penetration

Results of penetration tests into refractive index-matched granular media are presented in this study. These tests, performed at velocities of approximately 20 m/s, demonstrate the use of transparent soils in visualizing in situ granular kinematics, non-intrusively, during dynamic penetration in granular media. The transparent soil surrogate described herein has macroscopic physical and mechanical properties that mimic the behavior of natural soils. Digital image correlation was used to obtain soil displacements and corresponding granular kinematics from the acquired images. An analysis of measured deformations at the mesoscale is presented to investigate various features of soil–projectile interaction during penetration.