Particle size reduction in granular materials during rapid penetration

Abstract

Rapid penetration experiments using spherical projectiles at speeds up to 100 m/s were conducted in natural silica sand and in artificial sand comprised of crushed fused quartz. Material was recovered from the impact zone and subjected to size analysis and microscopic inspection. The fused quartz was much more susceptible to particle size reduction, particularly at lower velocities than natural sand. However, when the sand fractured, the particles were considerably smaller than those observed in fused quartz.