Model for the Interaction of a Rigid String with a Deformable Target

Abstract

A model is proposed to describe the interaction of a rigid penetrator (string) with a deformable target at high-velocity impact. The problem is considered in the plane deformation approximation. The target material is assumed to be incompressible and ideally plastic. The penetrator velocity is determined as a function of the penetration depth in an explicit form. The solutions for the crater shape and the free target surface adjoining the crater are written through universal functions, which can be approximated by simple analytical expressions at good accuracy. The penetration depth and the crater shape are calculated for an impact velocity of 1.36 km/s. The calculated crater shape agrees qualitatively with the well-known experimental data.