Ejecta Cone Angle and Ejecta Size Following a Non-perforating Hypervelocity Impact

The effects of projectile diameter and impact velocity on ejecta cone angle and ejecta size distribution were investigated by striking aluminum alloy 6061-T6 targets with aluminum alloy 2017-T4 spheres at velocities ranging from 2 to 6 km/s. The two-stage light-gas gun at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)/ Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Nagoya Institute of Technology was used for the experiments. To examine the scattering angles of ejecta, a witness plate (150 mm × 150 mm, 2 mm in thickness) made of copper C1100P-1/4H, with a 30-mm hole in the center, was placed 50 mm in front of the target.