Laboratory-Scale Penetration Experiments Into Geological Targets to Impact Velocities of 2.1 km/s

We obtained forces on 3.0 and 6.0 CRH, ogival-nosed projectiles penetrating a simulated geological target. A gas gun and a powder gun accelerated foundry core targets (a simulated soft sandstone) to steady velocities between 0.6–2.1 km/s, and the targets subsequently impacted 20.6 mm diameter penetrators. Rigid-body motions of the penetrators were obtained with laser interferometry and piezoelectric accelerometers. At a penetration velocity of about 1.5 km/s, the 6.0 CRH nose shape exhibited severe, permanent deformation; whereas, the 3.0 CRH nose shape remained undeformed for penetration velocities up to 2.1 km/s.