Ceramic and stacked penetrator against a hardened target

Abstract

A projectile for penetrating hardened targets is provided to include a shell having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to an impact surface of the target; and a plurality of penetrator elements disposed in tandem in the shell along the longitudinal axis. The penetrator elements may be composed of ceramic, which has high compressive strength relative to most metals. Selected portions of the penetrator may be composed of heavy metals. The penetrator elements may be separated from each other by gaps, which may be filled with foam or other shock-absorbing material. An alternate projectile provides a unitary penetrator element composed of ceramic.

1. A projectile for engaging a target, comprising:
 a shell having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to an impact surface of the target; and  
 a plurality of penetrator elements disposed in tandem in the shell along the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality includes a fore penetrator element composed of a heavy metal, and at least one remaining penetrator element of the plurality is composed of ceramic.  
 
   
   
     2. The projectile according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality is arranged to be axi-symmetric. 
   
   
     3. The projectile according to  claim 2 , wherein each penetrator element is cylindrical. 
   
   
     4. The projectile according to  claim 2 , wherein each penetrator element is spherical. 
   
   
     5. The projectile according to  claim 2 , wherein each penetrator element has a frustum shape. 
   
   
     6. The projectile according to  claim 2 , wherein each penetrator element has an ogive shape. 
   
   
     7. The projectile according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the plurality of penetrator elements includes first, second and third penetrator elements disposed fore to aft,  
 the first penetrator element is a cone,  
 the second penetrator element is a frustum, and  
 the third penetrator element is a cylinder.  
 
   
   
     8. The projectile according to  claim 1 , wherein a furthest-aft penetrator element is composed of a frangible material. 
   
   
     9. The projectile according to  claim 1 , wherein first and second penetrator elements of the plurality have an interface gap therebetween. 
   
   
     10. The projectile according to  claim 9 , wherein the gap is filled with a shock-absorbing material. 
   
   
     11. The projectile according to  claim 9 , wherein the gap includes a clamp attached to the shell to constrain relative longitudinal translation between the first and second penetrator elements. 
   
   
     12. The projectile according to  claim 1 , wherein another at least one remaining element of the plurality of penetrator elements is composed of reactive material. 
   
   
     13. A projectile for engaging a target, comprising:
 a shell having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to an impact surface of the target; and  
 a plurality of penetrator elements disposed in tandem in the shell along the longitudinal axis, wherein a foremost penetrator element of the plurality is composed of heavy metal and at least one remaining element of the penetrator elements is composed of ceramic.  
 
   
   
     14. The projectile according to  claim 13 , wherein first and second penetrator elements of the plurality have an interface gap therebetween. 
   
   
     15. The projectile according to  claim 13 , wherein the gap is filled with a shock-absorbing material. 
   
   
     16. The projectile according to  claim 13 , wherein another at least one remaining element of the plurality of penetrator elements is composed of reactive material. 
   
   
     17. A projectile for engaging a target, comprising:
 a unitary penetrator element having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicular to an impact surface of the target, wherein the penetrator element is composed of ceramic.  
 
   
   
     18. The projectile according to  claim 17 , wherein the penetrator element is cylindrical about the longitudinal axis and includes a nose having a shape that is one of flat and ogive.