Ultra-High-Velocity Penetration Performance of Lightweight W-Based Ceramic Alloy Rod Penetrator Against Concrete...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ballistics Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional 90W-Ni-Fe alloy penetrators suffer from deformation and fracture, limiting penetration depth at ultra-high velocities.
• There is a need for advanced penetrator materials that maintain integrity and enhance performance during high-velocity impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate a lightweight tungsten-based ceramic alloy for improved penetrator performance.
• To investigate the ballistic performance of the novel alloy against concrete targets.
• To modify existing theoretical penetration models for lightweight alloy penetrators.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a lightweight tungsten-based ceramic alloy.
• Conducting ballistics tests using the novel alloy and traditional 90W-Ni-Fe alloy against concrete targets.
• Modifying a theoretical penetration model based on experimental data.

Main Results:

• The lightweight alloy penetrator achieved a 5.7% mass reduction compared to the 90W-Ni-Fe alloy.
• Penetration depth increased by 6.22%–10.58% for the lightweight alloy within the 1408.0–1743.5 m/s impact velocity range.
• The modified theoretical model showed an 8.85% increase in predicted ultimate penetration depth for the lightweight alloy, with reduced mass loss and erosion rates.

Conclusions:

• The lightweight tungsten-based ceramic alloy demonstrates superior penetration performance compared to conventional 90W-Ni-Fe alloys at ultra-high velocities.
• The developed material offers a viable alternative for applications requiring enhanced penetrator capabilities.
• The modified theoretical model accurately predicts the performance of the lightweight alloy penetrators with a small error margin (within 5%).