Numerical Investigations on Ricochet of a Spin-Stabilised Projectile on Armour Steel Plates

Expanding urbanisation poses new challenges. Developing countries are facing a rapid Urbanisation with an estimated 4.3 billion urban inhabitants by 2035 [1]. History has shown that conflict and large-scale disasters are likely to occur where large populations reside [2]. During peace-keeping missions, soldiers move in closed urban locations surrounded by house walls and close to their armoured vehicles. In event of combat, the likelihood of projectiles ricocheting in a closed environment—than on the open battlefield—arises. This study examines projectile ricochet, which is the deflection off a surface of a projectile from its original trajectory after striking the target at a low angle [3], with focus on the influence of the angle of attack αt on the projectile behaviour after ricocheting. Numerical simulations—using the explicit Lagrangian solver—are used for a qualitative investigation, as measurement precision limits the determination of the influence of αt.