Self-sharpening mechanism of kinetic energy penetrator nose constructed of tungsten-fiber-reinforced Cu–Zn matrix composite

One of the key properties of the kinetic energy penetrator is self-sharpening ability during penetration. In this work, twisted tungsten-fiber-reinforced Cu–Zn composites with varying volume fraction of twisting fibers are designed to optimize self-sharpening capacity. The high-strain-rate compression and penetration behavior of the composites are systematically investigated. It was shown that the penetrator made of partially twisted-tungsten -fiber has the best penetration properties, which is marked by a 57% increased penetration depth compared with the untwisted penetrator. This is attributed to the excellent self-sharpening capability, rendering the head of remnant acute. The self-sharpening capability of the partially-twisted composite originates from the mismatch of the mechanical behavior between the edge and center part of the material. In specific, the tungsten fibers of the edge part are prone to fracture under shear deformation. The different macro-structure and microstructure between center and edge of the composite is favored for excellent penetration performance.