Re-examination of the evidence for a failure wave in SiC penetration experiments

Previous work suggested the possibility that the effects of a failure wave, evidenced through a change in the slope of the penetration velocity vs. impact velocity (u–vp) curve resulting from an increase in target penetration resistance, could be observed in penetration experiments of SiC. However, the previous work had to combine two different sets of experimental data, one using long tungsten rods and the other copper shaped-charge jets. A new set of experiments was conducted to address the uncertainties associated with combining the two disparate data sets. Analysis of the new experiments showed no evidence of a distinct change in the slope of the u–vp response of SiC, up to an impact velocity of 6.2 km/s. We re-examine the original data and analysis in light of the new experiments to understand the origins of the original misinterpretation.