Flash X-Ray Investigation of Ejecta Developed During High-Velocity Impact into Boron Carbide

Abstract X-rays have long been used to study internal phenomena during impact experiments. Flash x-rays have predominantly been used for simple measurements such as depth of penetration. We show here that such flash x-ray systems have the potential to provide other quantitative data in impact and cratering experiments. We have applied flash x-ray techniques to visualizing the ejecta and thickness distributions at a single time point. This resulting methodology can be applied to any material that is visible to x-rays, enabling an in-situ understanding of ejecta behavior. Furthermore, the underlying procedure can be taken another step further by using multiple x-ray heads to study thickness as a function of time or to generate detailed three-dimensional reconstructions of the ejecta field from flash x-rays.