Hypersonic velocity impact on a-SiC target: A diagram of damage characteristics via molecular dynamics simulations

Dynamic damage response characteristics of an amorphous silicon carbide target due to hypersonic velocity impacts of diamond projectiles are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. In a certain range of radii of the projectile, four distinct regimes of damage are uncovered and summarized in a penetration depth diagram. The regimes correspond to shallow crater formation, deep penetration into the target, deep penetration with local melting of the target, and complete disintegration of the projectile. In the third regime, a logarithmic dependence of the penetration depth as a function of the projectile velocity has been found and explained by an analytical model.