Concrete Material Flow during Projectile Penetration

The penetration of ogive-nose projectiles into concrete targets is investigated using finite element analyses. The Elastic-Plastic Impact Computation (EPIC) is used to examine the velocity vector fields of high- and low-strength target material during concrete penetration. The velocity fields represent the flow of the target material around the nose of the projectile and provide information about the concrete's penetration resistance behavior. The simulations show that material flow patterns transition during a penetration event. The dependence of this transition point as a function of concrete strength and impact velocity is presented. A Spherical Expansion Comparison Methodology (SECM) is developed to provide possible physical interpretations of the observed transition points. Structural engineers and model developers looking to improve the accuracy of current analytical concrete penetration models will benefit from the findings of this paper.