Effect of rifle bullet parameters on the penetration into ballistic gelatin

To understand the effects of the rifle bullet parameters on the bullet-gelatin interaction quantitatively, a finite element model of bullet penetrating gelatin was set up and computational results are compared with experimental ones. The penetration of the rifle bullet into the gelatin was simulated by the nonlinear finite element method. The quantitative analysis of the changes in the gelatin interaction with the rifle bullet were conducted by changing the bullet parameters, such as attack angle on gelatin, initial velocity, warhead's tip and location of mass center of bullet. Results demonstrate that with the increase of the attack angle, instable moment of the bullet moves forward,the length of narrow wound channel shortens,and when penetration is completed diameters of temporary cavities increase, the gelatin energy and energy transmission ratio increases; With the increase of the impact velocity, instable moment of the bullet moves forward, the maximum forces acting on the gelatin and the gelatin energy increase remarkably; the length of narrow wound channel shortens, diameters of temporary cavities increase when penetration is completed, the gelatin energy and energy transmission ratio increase; The warhead's tip and location of mass center have a influence on the instable moment of the bullet and length of the narrow wound channel. The instable moment delays and narrow wound channel increases when the warhead's tip flattens. The instable moment moves forward a little and the narrow wound channel shortens a little when location of mass center moves back.