Analysis of debris clouds produced by impact of aluminum spheres with aluminum sheets

Results of two-stage light gas gun testing of two diameters of aluminum spheres impacting 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm thickness aluminum plates were described in this paper. Impact velocities for these tests were between 3.16 km/s and 5.17 km/s. The components of debris cloud and damage patterns in the witness plate were described. The morphologic features of debris clouds such as shape, axial velocity, and diametral velocity were discussed. The size and number of fragments in the internal structure of debris cloud were not evaluated quantitatively, but described qualitatively. As a result, the shape of the leading face of the internal structure of debris cloud appeared to be sensitive to impact velocity, but not t/D ratio (bumper-thickness-to-projectile diameter ratio). The point at which the maximum diameter of the external bubble of debris cloud occurred had a same half spray angle of 30 degree and the last fragments ejected from bumper had a same half spray angle of 42 degree for each test. Fragments after the point mentioned above in the external bubble of debris cloud were ejected as several chains, the number of which is sensitive to impact velocity, but not t/D ratio. The changes in normalized velocity of the measurement points at debris cloud appeared the same trend as conclusions presented by Piekutowski except for the normalized internal structure expanding velocity. A certain value of t/D ratio, at two sides of which, the normalized internal structure expanding velocity appeared different variety trend existed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.