Hydrocode simulations of liquid filled channels for understanding erosion in shaped charge jet penetration

Hypervelocity impacts of copper rods into liquid filled channels circumferentially confined by steel cylinders were investigated using 2D axisymmetric hydrocode simulations. The confined liquid was utilized as a means to investigate the interplay of eroded target material and the remaining projectile in order to elucidate relevant penetration behaviors in solid materials. This led to a better understanding of two significant contributing parameters in the flow characteristics: the density (how difficult the material is to accelerate) and the channel diameter (how far the material has to move). While the liquid eliminates direct strength effects on penetration of the rods, varying the channel width allows a survey of parameter space that is typically a function of both material strength and density. Three successive copper rods with varying velocities and delays were used to model a penetrator representative of select sections of a shaped charge jet. For each target material, the residual penetration in solid rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) was then measured as a function of the liquid channel width. A strong dependence on both the material density and channel width was observed in regards to the efficiency of the material against penetration.