Novel Methods to Measure Penetrator Dynamics in Multi-Layer Geometries

In Phase I of this effort we analyzed the structural response of a BLU 109 during typical penetration events. Based on these finite element results, we proposed and demsonstrated a simple robust concept for a passive penetrator sensor that identifies the material being penetrated and also correlates strongly with its underground trajectory. Such a sensor would obviously provide valuable information to be used for fuzing and for assessing whether or not the weapon reached its target. In Phase II, we propose to refine and validate this concept with a combination of numerical simulations and scaled field tests. We also propose to measure the high frequency ( 1 MHz) acoustic environment during the field tests. Quantifying this environment is required to evaluate the potential for active acoustic sensors which were also explored in Phase I. Finally, we will integrate the RKPM meshless method for simulating target materials with the NLFlex finite element code for the penetrator to perform high accuracy analyses of penetration events.