Perforation experiments of concrete targets with residual velocity measurements

Perforation experiments of concrete by steel projectiles have been carried out. The projectiles' initial velocity out of the gun bore was measured with electric probes. A high-speed digital camera system was used to photograph the penetration events. The residual velocities of the projectiles were acquired using foil screen targets, which was designed and built by us. The launch acceleration in the gun bore and the deceleration during the perforation event was recorded with an acceleration transducer. Several perforation tests using concrete targets of different thicknesses were conducted with a nominal striking velocity of 400 m/s. The residual velocity and kinetic energy consumed versus the target thickness was analyzed. The perforation limit was also obtained.

► The residual velocity of perforating the concrete target was acquired by using the foil screen targets method.
► The damage of the concrete targets was shown.
► The kinetic energy consumed per meter of the target thickness decreases with an increase of the target thickness.