Numerical simulation and analytical coupling study on cavity expansion of solid materials

Abstract This study employed the Plastic-Kinematic constitutive model to conduct three-dimensional numerical simulations on armor alloys and aluminum alloys, aiming to explore their impact resistance during spherical and cylindrical cavity expansion. Through the coupling of simulation data and analytical formulas, we derived a calculation formula for expansion velocity, considering both cavity wall stress and radial pressure in static cavity expansion. The radial pressure in static cavity expansion was accurately determined through numerical simulations, and its relationship with yield strength was thoroughly analyzed. Additionally, we verified the accuracy of the mechanical parameters Asce and B for spherical cavity expansion velocity. Normalization of the expansion velocity formulas for spherical and cylindrical cavities simplified the description of expansion velocity for different cavity shapes. The feasibility and universality of the proposed normalization analytical formula were validated through comparisons with literature data. This formula, applicable to metal materials within a specific yield strength range, accurately describes the expansion pressure and velocity characteristics during cavity expansion, providing a rapid and effective solution for research on projectile penetration into solid materials and valuable references for further exploration in related fields.