Prediction of force-time histories in thick steel plates due to penetration by tungsten rods at velocities of 1.5 – 2.5 km s−

analytical model has been proposed to predict the force-time history in an isotropic plate due to penetration by a projectile. The analytical mode1 developed considers the prediction of shape and size of the cavity. pressure distribution along the cavity wall and force-time history for the penetration event. The shape and the radius of the cavity obtained from the model are compared with the experiment and with the finite element simulation. Six penetration experiments were performed in 4340 steel plates by long tungsten rods (L/D = 11) at velocities in the range of 1.5- 2.5 km SK’. These experiments were then simulated using the EPIC91 Research Code. From the experiments. cavity radius, terminal velocity and reduction in rod length are compared with the finite element simulations. The simulated cavity radius, cavity depth, cavity expansion velocity and force-time histories are comparable with those obtained from the cavity growth and expansion model. Initially, an idealized analytical force-time history was compared with the simulation. The results showed that the force-time history is characteristic of the penetration event. Finally. we evaluated the influence of target thickness and striking velocity of the projectile on the analytical force-time history.