Penetration of HSLA-100 steel with tungsten carbide spheres at striking velocities between 0.8 and 2.5 km/s

Abstract A 51 mm thick plate of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA-100) steel was impacted by 6.4 mm diameter tungsten carbide spheres traveling at velocities ranging from 0.8–2.5 km/s. The width and depth of the crater for each impact event are provided in tabulated form and graphed as a function of velocity. The impacts were simulated using an explicit Lagrangian finite element model. A residual stress map over a cross-section through the crater was also measured by the Contour Method for the 2.2 km/s impact. The predominant feature of the stress map was a peak compressive stress of 1100 MPa, which is 1.6 times the yield strength, centered approximately one crater diameter below the crater floor. Residual stresses in the as-received HSLA-100 plate were also measured and were used to evaluate the effect of initial stresses on the model prediction. Good agreement is shown between the numerical simulation of the impact event and the experimental data.