Numerical simulations of target hole diameters for hypervelocity impacts into elevated and room temperature bumpers

Normal impacts between 3.175 mm diameter 1100-O Al spherical projectiles and 1.6 mm thick 6061-T6 Al targets are considered for both room temperature and heated targets. The elevated target temperatures under examination are 110 and 210 °C, and the simulated impact velocities range from approximately 2 to7 km/s. The AUTODYN v.5 hydrocode is used to generate data that are compared to empirical data obtained from the literature, and to that obtained with the University of Denver Research Institute's (DRI) two-stage light gas gun. The effect of using applicable strength and fracture models currently available in AUTODYN to replicate both room and elevated temperature target hole diameters is also examined. It was found that the numerical simulations for both room and elevated temperature targets predict hole diameters that differ approximately 0.1–13% from the DRI empirical data.