Ricochet and Fragmentation Analysis of Projectile from Impact on Steel Plate and Soil Using Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Determination of Surface Danger Zones (SDZs) is a safety related issue of paramount importance which must be addressed. Several technical factors are involved in SDZs determination for a specific weapon and ammunition system: range of fire, dispersion, ricochet and fragmentation. This work is focused on the ricochet and fragmentation of 120 mm typical training round tank ammunition during high velocity impact. The modeling is based on numerical simulation for analyzing the large deformation dynamic response of the round structure during impact. The main aim of the numerical analysis was to examine the various impact parameters of the ricochet i.e. the critical angle for penetration or fragmentation and to understand the effect of the impacted surface properties on the ricochet behavior. The numerical model presented was calibrated and compered to ricochet firing test that included 120 mm tank training round fired against hard armored steel, and soft soil targets.