On the Free Surface Skipping Characteristics of Highly Deformable Elastic Spheres

• Main Author: Hurd, Randy C
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2015
• Subjects: ricochet; skipping; water impact; free surface; deformable; elastic; Mechanical Engineering
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5891; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6890&context=etd

When a highly deformable elastic sphere impacts a water surface at an oblique angle it can skip several times in a manner similar to a skipping stone. However, this sphere seems to skip more readily and with more ease than a traditional skipping stone. This thesis examines the improved skipping characteristics of highly deformable elastic spheres made from cured silicone rubber. The effect of impact velocity, impact angle, sphere diamter and material shear modulus on ricochet trajectory is experimentally examined using high speed photography and image processing techniques. Experimental evaluation shows that deformation is the primary contributor to an increased lift force upon impact. An analytical model is presented in addition to a regime diagram predicting ricochet results from impact conditions.