Ibix said:
This makes it really hard to work out what question you're asking in a way that's precise enough to answer.
I will try to frame my question more precisely and if you are feeling generous, you can point out if my question is still too vague or answer it as is.
What I essentially want to predict is applied force over time, using ##F = \frac {m \cdot \Delta v}{\Delta t}##, and how that force distributes over an area, ##p = \frac {F}{A}##. I assume this pressure changes depending how much the target deforms during impact.
When I say "localized damage", I am referring to the effects of a pressure impacting a single solid material or object that is a combination of different materials. If we take the tank example, I would only be interested in penetrating its composite armor because any kind of shrapnel or concussive blast that damages more vulnerable targets like the human operators or the engine is less defined and a more complex equation. A hypothetical experiment would involve a solid block of armor, and I want to determine how deep the force penetrates into it. This is similar to bullet penetration tests using stacked bricks or water bottles—except in this case, I’d treat the armor as an idealized continuous medium.
So... in your original comment, you bring up "the length of time over which the impact occurs". The impact duration should depend on how easily the target deforms, right? A bullet hitting rubber would have a longer impact duration due to deformation, whereas hitting tank armor would result in a shorter impact duration due to its rigidity. I want to model how pressure changes based on the impacted material, considering that ##\Delta t## in the force equation influences the force applied. Since pressure depends on both force and contact area, I assume materials that deform more will spread the impact out, reducing peak pressure.
Would this approach be a valid way to model penetration depth, or am I overlooking key factors?
Ibix said:
Well - a bullet may pass through a window leaving a small hole while a punch will shatter the whole pane.
I [hope I] have conveyed that I am more interested in penetration potential rather than the area of effect. A glass pane might not be the best material for testing because it structurally fails easily when deformed. The bullet’s high speed doesn’t allow it much time to deform, unlike a fist, which applies force over a longer duration.
Ibix said:
All that said, @Dr. Courtney did do some work in the area of blast injuries, and would probably be able to make useful comments. Unfortunately I don't think he posts here anymore.
Thank you for sharing. I am not sure if his work describes what I am looking for, but I will see what he has to say regardless.