Monolithic and segmented projectile penetration experiments in the 2 to 4 kilometers per second impact velocity regime

A series of experiments was performed to evaluate the performance of projectiles impacting targets at velocities two to three times larger than conventional ordnance velocities. The results were positive, where low L/D ratio projectiles exceeded the theoretical hydrodynamic limit of penetration for the given projectile-target combination. High L/D ratio projectiles did not appreciably exceed the limit.

A second set of experiments was devised to test the hypothesis that a segmented projectile, - consisting of a series of low L/D projectiles, assembled in a long rod configuration, - could penetrate deeper into the target than a monolithic projectile of equivalent mass. The results were again positive, with a gain of about 10% shown in some cases. The balance of the experiments was devoted to developing a set of design rules and to exploring variations in the configuration and materials.