Studies of the Fragmentation of Spherical Aluminum Projectiles on a Heavy Mesh at Velocities of up to 7 km/s

The results of experimental studies and numerical simulation of the fragmentation of aluminum alloy projectiles on a tungsten mesh bumper at impact velocities of up to 7 km/s are presented. The projectiles are accelerated by a two-stage light-gas gun. X-ray photography is used to observe the state of a projectile before its impact on the mesh bumper and the process of its fragmentation. The parameters of the cloud of fragments of the projectile are recorded using a thick witness plate made of AMg6 alloy placed behind the mesh bumper. Numerical simulation is performed by the smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) method. Specific features of the morphology of the cloud of fragments are pointed out, and the velocities of the fragments in different parts of the cloud, as well as the arising cumulative effect, are estimated. The experimental results are compared with the results of numerical simulation.