Reverse impact experiments against tungsten rods and results for aluminum penetration between 1.5 and 4.2 km/s

Reverse impact experiments against 0.76 mm diameter L/D = 20 tungsten rods have been conducted with a 38 mm diameter launch tube, two-stage light-gas gun using four 450 kV flash X-rays to measure penetration rates. Techniques for projectile construction, sample placement, alignment, and radiography are described. Data for penetration rate, consumption velocity, and total penetration were obtained for 28 mm diameter 6061-T651 aluminum cylinders at impact velocities between 1.5 and 4.2 km/s. It was found that penetration velocity was a linear function of impact velocity over this velocity range. Above 2 km/s impact velocity, penetration was completely hydrodynamic. There was substantial secondary penetration, and the total penetration increased linearly with impact velocity over the range 1.5 to 2.5 km/s.