Affiliations: US Army Engineer Research and Development Center,
CEERD-GS-M, MS, USA | US Army Engineer Research and Development Center,
CEERD-GM-I, MS, USA | US Army Engineer Research and Development Center,
CEERD-GS-V, MS, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: James O'Daniel, US Army Engineer Research
and Development Center, CEERD-GS-M, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS
39180-6199, USA. Tel.: +1 601 634 3036; Fax: +1 601 634 2211; E-mail:
James.L.O'[email protected]
Abstract: Simulating fragment penetration into steel involves complicated
modeling of severe behavior of the materials through multiple phases of
response. Penetration of a fragment-like projectile was simulated using finite
element (FE) and meshfree particle formulations. Extreme deformation and
failure of the material during the penetration event were modeled with several
approaches to evaluate each as to how well it represents the actual physics of
the material and structural response. A steel Fragment Simulating Projectile
(FSP) – designed to simulate a fragment of metal from a weapon casing
– was simulated for normal impact into a flat square plate. A range of
impact velocities was used to examine levels of exit velocity ranging from
relatively small to one on the same level as the impact velocity. The numerical
code EPIC, used for all the simulations presented herein, contains the element
and particle formulations, as well as the explicit methodology and constitutive
models needed to perform these simulations. These simulations were compared
against experimental data, evaluating the damage caused to the projectile and
the target plates, as well as comparing the residual velocity when the
projectile perforated the target.
