Experimental Study of an Aluminum Projectile Interacting with a Wire Mesh Screen during Oblique Impact at Velocities up to 7 km/s

We experimentally investigate the perforation of wire mesh screens by an aluminum projectile over a range of impact angles. The study focuses on the fragmentation mechanism driven by the penetration of mesh wires into the projectile material. A series of high-velocity impact tests on thin mesh screens reveal that, as shockwave-induced fragmentation diminishes and the impact angle increases, the projectile undergoes fragmentation primarily via the wire penetration mechanism. We assess the performance of a mesh screen as a protective layer at various impact angles, comparing its effectiveness to that of a solid barrier shield. Additionally, the ballistic characteristics of the resulting fragment cloud are evaluated.