Penetration performance and fragmentation mechanism behind target of tungsten fibre/zirconium-based bulk metallic glass matrix composite rod

A tungsten fibre/zirconium-based bulk metallic glass matrix composite (WF/Zr-MG) is a type of armour piercing material with significant development potential. When it penetrates a finite-thickness target plate, it results in damage different from those generated by W alloys. Therefore, the penetration of 80% WF/Zr-MG by volume fraction (the diameter of the W fibre is 0.3 mm) into a 120-mm-thick 45 steel target plate is investigated experimentally at an impact velocity of 1600 ± 20 m/s. Subsequently, the results are comp rod ared with those of a 91 Walloy (91 W) rod to investigate the penetration performance and damage ability behind the target of composite materials. The damage effects of the 45 steel target plate and after-effect target are analysed. The penetration performance and fragmentation mechanism of the two materials are analysed experimentally and based on theoretical calculations. The experimental results indicate that the WF/Zr-MG rod shows self-sharpening in the nose, a smaller average crater diameter, less kinetic energy loss, and better penetration performance compared with the 91 W rod. The bonding force between the phases of WF/Zr-MG is significantly lower than that of 91 W, and cracks formed easily in the material during the penetration process. Radial stress is released instantaneously after the WF/Zr-MG rod departs from the target; consequently, the WF/Zr-MG rod underwent radial expansion, fracture, and dispersion. The damaged areas of WF/Zr-MG measured 1734 and 1661 cm2, which exhibit fragment diffusion angles of 46.5° and 46.1°, respectively. However, the damaged areas of the W alloy are only 1017 and 1193 cm2, and the corresponding fragment diffusion angles are only 35.3° and 37.8°, respectively. The damage parameters of WF/Zr-MG behind the target are greater than those of the tungsten alloy, which increased its killing capacity behind the target.