Analysis of the effect of driving belts on the interaction between elongated projectiles and light alloy barriers

To assess the effect of a driving belt on the elongated projectile penetration into a barrier, it is necessary to perform mathematical modeling considering all the physical and mechanical properties of the projectile and barrier. Using the modified EFES software package, the high-speed interaction of elongated steel projectiles with aluminum barriers is calculated in the speed range of 200 – 450 m/s. Two configurations of the projectile, namely, the projectiles with and without belts, are studied numerically. The developed mathematical model is validated using experimental results for the high-speed interaction of elongated projectiles with aluminum barriers. A comparison of the calculated and experimental results yields a discrepancy in the behind-the-barrier speed, which does not exceed 9.5%. The obtained data show an insignificant influence of the driving belts on the behind-the-barrier speed; the difference in the values is less than 4%.