Cratering by the oblique impact of a spinning projectile

Abstract

We investigate the roles of spin and packing fraction on the dynamics of cratering when a solid projectile impacts a granular bed at different incident angles. For that, we carried out DEM (discrete element method) computations in which we varied the magnitude and direction of the projectile spin, the impact velocity, the bed packing fraction, and the incident angle. For a given incident velocity, we found that the projectile can rebound for small angles, or be completely or partially buried for larger angles, and that when buried it can sometimes migrate large horizontal distances depending on the incident angle. We also found that increasing the packing fraction strengthens rebounds, and that the initial spin, depending on its direction and orientation, induces rebound, burying, or transverse deviations. The crater morphology also changes with the varying parameters, acquiring circular, elliptical, goutte-like, tadpole-like, and transitional shapes, correlating well with the projectile behavior. Finally, we propose diagrams organizing and classifying the dynamics observed. Our results shed new light on the different shapes of craters found in nature and the fate of the impacting material.