Effect of the velocity of a single flying plate on the protection capability against obliquely impacting long-rod penetrators

The protection capability of a flying steel plate against obliquely impacting tungsten heavy alloy long-rod penetrators was simulated using the NET3D code as a function of plate velocity ranging from -0.5 to 0.5 km/sec at an obliquity of 60$^\circ$. The negativity in plate velocity was assigned if the plate had a velocity component in the direction of penetrator progress. Based on the residual kinetic energy of the penetrator after perforating the plate, the protection capability of the plate increased as the plate velocity decreased to a negative value at both a normal ordnance velocity (1.5 km/sec) and a hypervelocity (2.5 km/sec) impact. The defeat capability of the oblique plate increased as the impact velocity increased in the plate velocity range studied in this work. The interaction mechanisms between the penetrator and steel plate, responsible for these results, were investigated. The physical meaning of the results obtained in this work were discussed in the light of sensor-activated and reactive armours.