On the role of material properties in the terminal ballistics of long rods

The terminal ballistics of long-rod penetrators is a very complex field of research involving high pressure physics, continuum mechanics, material science and high strain rate phenomena. The research in this field is advanced through experimental data collection, engineering models, and numerical simulations. In the present paper, we summarize some of our recent work which is focused on determining the important material parameters in the interaction of long rods with various targets (both stationary and moving). Our basic goal is to be able to account for various phenomena encountered in the experiments, rather than reproduce the data very accurately. We achieve this goal by using the minimal set of material parameters which is needed in order to highlight the basic features in the interaction. We also show how 3D numerical simulations help to establish a simple model for the complex interaction between a tungsten alloy rod and a moving steel plate.