Hypervelocity crater formation in aluminum alloys at low temperatures

The penetration and perforation of three kinds of aluminum alloys at room temperatures and low temperatures in the velocity range from about 0.5 to about 3.7 km/s were investigated experimentally. Main interests were focused on the depth and diameter of craters and their relations to the impact velocity. As a result, very distinctive features of the temperature effect on the shape and size of craters were found. Also, the effect of impact-induced phase transition of projectiles on the crater formation was examined about carbon steel, aluminum alloy and NaCl projectiles.