Oblique Hypervelocity Impacts on Thick Glass Targets

Data are reported for hypervelocity impact cratering in glass arising from impacts of 1 mm diameter aluminium spheres impacting thick glass targets at 5.11 +/- 0.13 km s(-1). The angle of incidence of the projectiles was varied from 0 degrees (normal incidence) to 80 degrees (glancing incidence). The crater resulting from each impact was measured and it was found that the crater size does not change significantly unless impacts are at > 45 degrees from the normal. Crater shape (as given by ratios of crater measurements, e.g. depth/diameter) is insensitive to impact angle up to extreme angles of incidence. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.