Computational modeling of tungsten carbide sphere impact and penetration into high-strength-low-alloy (HSLA)-100 steel targets

The current investigation tested the existing material models of tungsten carbide and HSLA-100 steel by comparing available published experimental data, such as the depth and diameter of the impact crater, against the corresponding simulated results. Lagrange and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations were carried out using an axisymmetric model of the tungsten carbide (WC) projectile and the HSLA-100 target. The Lagrange simulation predicted the crater diameter accurately. The SPH simulation efforts predicted the crater diameter with acceptable accuracy (within 15%) for impact velocities ranging from 830 to 2550 m/s. However, the SPH simulations failed to predict the crater depth for impact velocities greater than 1.5 km/s. The current paper will detail the results of parametric studies conducted using various existing models in an attempt to simulate the observed damage and the efforts to improve the simulation prediction of the experimental data.