Modern Impact and Penetration Mechanics

This graduate text is indispensable for those wanting to see and understand the mechanics of extreme dynamic events. It describes in detail the mechanics and material models used in understanding impact and penetration events. Covers continuum mechanics, the Hugoniot jump conditions, plasticity theory, damage and failure theory, shock and wave propagation in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks, and the high pressure and high-rate response of materials. Nonlinearity in response of materials and systems is a common theme, showing itself in interesting and surprising ways. Materials are studied through damage to failure, since in armor and protection applications materials are utilized all the way through failure. Continuum and constitutive modelling topics required for modern large-scale numerical simulation techniques are clearly described. Extensive exercises ensure comprehension and explore new topics. This text is appropriate for a variety of graduate courses, including Continuum Mechanics, Advanced Solid Mechanics, and Plasticity and Inelasticity Theory.

1. Introduction; 2. Conservation laws and the Hugoniot jump conditions; 3. The behavior of solids; 4. Mechanical waves, shocks, and rarefactions; 5. Elastic-plastic deformation and shocks; 6. The cavity expansion; 7. Penetration; 8. The Tate-Alekseevskii model; 9. The crater and ejecta; 10. The Walker-Anderson model; 11. Finite targets; 12. Nondeforming (rigid) impactors; 13. Yarns, fabrics, and fiber-based composites; 14. Rotation, stretch, and finite elasticity

James D. Walker is the Director and an acting Institute Scientist in the Engineering Dynamics Department in the Mechanical Engineering Division at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and has worked in impact mechanics for over 30 years. He received the ASME Holley Medal for exceptional engineering in the public good for his work in the space shuttle Columbia accident investigation. He is a Fellow of AIAA, ASME, and the International Ballistics Society.