Deceleration of projectiles in sand

Abstract

Penetration of projectiles was measured for hemispherical and conical nose shapes penetrating granular media. Targets were beds of Ottawa sand and Eglin sand. Projectiles were rigid metals. Experimental parameters that were varied included velocity (from 300 to 600 m/s), nose shape, sand density, and scale (from 5 mm to 20 mm). Strong evidence for scale effects is found: 5 mm diameter projectiles are less effective penetrators than 12.5, 15, or 20 mm diameter penetrators. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.