penetrator

Penetrator is a term used in several fields to denote a device, material, or element that pierces through another substance or barrier. The word derives from Latin penetrare, meaning to pierce. In general usage, a penetrator is something designed to breach resistance.

In materials science and testing, penetrators describe the hardened tips or projectiles used to penetrate surfaces during hardness testing or impact experiments. A standard indenter and various impact projectiles act as penetrators to measure resistance, deformation behavior, or energy absorption of materials.

In weapons technology, penetrating projectiles are a key component of armor-piercing rounds. The dense core, or penetrator, defeats armor by concentrating kinetic energy. Modern systems often use fin-stabilized, discarding sabot projectiles with tungsten or depleted uranium penetrators.

Penetrator munitions, known as bunker-buster or hardened-structure penetrators, are designed to penetrate concrete or earth before explosive effects occur, increasing effectiveness against subterranean or fortified targets.

In cybersecurity and information security, penetration testing involves authorized simulated attacks to identify vulnerabilities. The term penetrator is not a standard label for an individual in this field; practitioners are typically called penetration testers or ethical hackers.