Oblique hypervelocity impacts on thick glass targets

Data are reported for hypervelocity impact cratering in glass arising from impacts of 1 mm diameter aluminium spheres impacting thick glass targets at 5.11±0.13 km s−1. The angle of incidence of the projectiles was varied from 0° (normal incidence) to 80° (glancing incidence). The crater resulting from each impact was measured and it was found that the crater size does not change significantly unless impacts are at >45° from the normal. Crater shape (as given by ratios of crater measurements, e.g. depth/diameter) is insensitive to impact angle up to extreme angles of incidence.