High-speed perforation of IN718 plates by spherical TC4 Ti alloy projectiles: Experiments and modeling

Data and knowledge on ballistic performance of Inconel-718 (IN718) alloy is critical for evaluating the resistance of turbine blades against foreign object impacts in aeronautical and astronautical industries. Ballistic perforation experiments (impact velocity 480 ms−1 to 1340 ms−1) with TC4 spherical projectiles (5-mm-diameter) are conducted on IN718 target plates (2-mm-thick) in this work, along with high-speed photography. The IN718 plates show multiple deformation and failure modes (bulging, dishing, petaling and plugging). The ballistic limit velocity for the investigated projectile/target combination is 823 ms−1. Postmortem material characterizations (optical photography, scanned electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry) are conducted on recovered projectiles and bullet hole inner walls, and the observations indicate adiabatic shearing, surface melting and abrasion of projectile material. A finite element model based on the Johnson–Cook constitutive model and failure criterion is established, and reproduces the ballistic experiments. Dimensionless analyses are conducted on the dimensions of postmortem projectiles and bullet holes, and the projectile residual velocity/mass. On the basis of experimental observations and theoretical analysis of the projectile dynamics, the whole perforation process is divided into three stages (the entering, cratering and plugging stages). A multi-stage analytical model on perforation is then developed considering the effects of cavity expansion, projectile deformation and abrasion, and can well predict the projectile dynamics during entering and cratering stages.