Hypervelocity impact of small masses on large surfaces of piezoelectric ceramics

The hypervelocity impact of small masses on large surface piezoceramics was investigated to study the impact behavior of hypervelocity projectiles. From a linear elastic model obtained at lower velocities, solutions were found for the hypervelocity case which determine both the size and the momentum of impacting projectiles from the rising slope of the charge signal generated by the impact. The results lead to the development of a new generation of impact detectors for small masses at hypervelocities which consists only of a plate of piezoceramic material.