Cratering by the oblique impact of a spinning projectile
Phys. Rev. E 113, 035412 – Published 25 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/zn6h-97dp
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. To do so, 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 to organize and classify the observed dynamics. Our results shed new light on the different shapes of craters found in nature and the fate of the impacting material.
