A computational study of deceleration curves based on spherical cavity-expansion theory

Based on the spherical cavity-expansion theory, a time-discretized method is used to calculate the penetration process. The deceleration curves are obtained when penetrating soil, concrete and metal targets, and the effects on deceleration curves of projectile nose shape, friction coefficient and incidence velocity are studied. The results show that with the CRH decreasing and the taper angle increasing, the peak value of deceleration curves will increase. The friction coefficient has an obvious effect on deceleration curve, and the effect increases with the nose length increasing. The effect of inertia becomes more obvious and the maxmal deceleration and penetration time will increase with incidence velocity increasing. The calculation results also show that the cavity-expansion theory is approximatively applicable in the multi-medium penetration.