Hypervelocity impact on soda lime glass: Damage equations for impactors in the 400-2000m range

The results of a Light Gas Gun hypervelocity impact program on 25 mm thick soda-lime (float) glass targets are compared to the values predicted by an empirically determined power law spallation equation (Paul and Berthoud, 199$). Impact velocities were in the vicinity of 5 km s(-1) projectile densities were between 1 and 8 g cm(-1) and the projectile diameters, d(p) were 0.8 to 2 mm respectively, producing spallation diameters between 10 mm and 50 mm. Previously published data in the range d(p) = 7 - 1000 mu m are also used to assess the validity of the equation. We conclude that D-spall is predicted by the empirically determined power law spallation diameters for d(p) < 400 mu m but only to within +/-50%. An alternative equation to ddescribe the response of target material for d(p) > 400 mu m is presented. (C) 1997 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.