High-speed impact dynamics is of interest in the fundamental sciences,
e.g., astrophysics and space sciences, and has a number of important
applications in military technologies, homeland security and engineering.
When compared with experiments or numerical simulations, analytical
approaches in impact mechanics only seldom yield useful results. However,
when successful, analytical approaches allow us to determine general laws
that are not only important in themselves but also serve as benchmarks for
subsequent numerical simulations and experiments.
The main goal of this monograph is to demonstrate the potential and
effectiveness of analytical methods in applied high-speed penetration
mechanics for two classes of problem. The first class of problem is shape
optimization of impactors penetrating into ductile, concrete and some
composite media. The second class of problem comprises investigation of
ballistic properties and optimization of multi-layered shields, including
spaced and two-component ceramic shields. Despite the massive use of
mathematical techniques, the obtained results have a clear engineering
meaning and are presented in an easy-to-use form. One of the chapters is
devoted solely to some common approximate models, and this is the first
time that a comprehensive description of the localized impactor/medium
interaction approach is given.