Trajectory Prediction of Pre-Damaged Targets Impact by Rigid Projectiles with Stress Equivalent FEM Subroutine

Abstract

The terminal lethality of a tandem warhead is determined by the subsequent projectile. Curved trajectories are most likely occurring in the penetration process of the subsequent projectile into a pre-damaged target due to the detonation field of the precursory HE charge on attitude of projectile. FEM simulation using the ABAQUS/Explicit code with a target response equivalent subroutine was performed to investigate the trajectories. Utilizing combined analysis, the results acquired from FEM simulation agree well with experimental data. The effects of initial impact conditions as well as corresponding trajectories have been obtained from numerical results. The results identified that obliquity and yaw angle or non-axis aligned impact offsets would change considerably the trajectory and penetration depth. The approximate pre-damaged hole in the target has a significant oriented effect for penetration of subsequent projectile, and the ricochet has occurred only in extreme conditions of high oblique or yawed angles and large offsets.