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An investigation on the ballistic impact behaviour of tungsten blunt projectiles on Kevlar ® 29 plain-woven fabrics with an epoxy matrix has been carried out for the purpose of gaining an insight in the phenomena at the level of the composite components. Numerical models have been developed and have then been compared with experimental results. The numerical models have been developed in LS-DYNA adopting two different approaches: a Macro-homogeneous model, in which each layer is modelled as an orthotropic equivalent, and a Meso-heterogeneous one, based on the definition of all the details of the fabric architecture in the area of impact of the projectile's tip (in this case, yarns and matrix have their own properties). In both models, the projectile is considered a rigid body. An in-depth analysis of the macro parameters, such as the residual velocities, their dependency upon the yaw impact angle and delamination has been performed. Also the stress state inside the layers and the morphological features of the damaged plates has been studied and interesting results regarding the behaviour of different layers of Kevlar ® 29 plain-woven fabrics during impact have been obtained. Performances and the pros/cons of the different numerical approaches have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ballistic performance of an Al alloy AA7020-T651 (AlZn4.5Mg1, 3.4335) against fragment-simulating projectiles (FSPs) is investigated at impact velocities between 900 m/s and 1500 m/s. The target plates are considered as thick regarding the ratio between the specimen thickness (40 mm) and the projectile diameter (20 mm). With increasing impact velocities, the observed failure modes of the target plates change from plugging to discing. The stress state leading to the discing formation has been described and numerically modeled by the Lagrangian approach. In order to understand the mechanisms that occur in the material under highly dynamic loadings, its mechanical, thermal and micro-structural properties are discussed. The experimental conditions (thick target, penetrator of a specific shape, high-velocity impacts) allow the authors to draw conclusions, which are complementary to those that resulted from investigations of semi-thick and thin target plates under ballistic impacts in a lower velocity range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of ballistically equivalent metals for ductile plate perforation has been defined and demonstrated for five aluminium alloys. Heuristic derivation of a semi-empirical relation between specific cavitation energy s c and hole slenderness ratio h / D (the ratio between plate thickness h and projectile nose base diameter D which is also known as the normalized plate thickness) has exposed a logarithmic dependence which is verified by experimental data. A closed-form logarithmic expression for s c which takes into account the h / D effect has led to a closed-form formula for the ballistic limit. The expression for s c is based on the spherical cavitation yield stress Y c S which serves as a scaling yield stress for strain-hardening (softening) response. It is found that ballistically equivalent metals should have practically the same values of Y c S and elastic modulus. The perforation of aluminium targets by 7.62 mm APM2 bullets is discussed and vast amount of experimental data is used to validate the particular ballistic limit formula. Application of the closed-form model is also demonstrated with connection to the more general concept of ballistically equivalent targets . The h / D effect on perforation of multilayered targets is examined and it is found that for ductile plate perforation the ballistic limit of a monolithic target is higher than the ballistic limit of any combination of its air-gapped parts. Under the constraint of n air-gapped protective layers with total thickness h the minimum ballistic limit is obtained for n identical layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ductile thermoplastics, for example Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), are of interest for their impact energy absorbing capabilities. While the impact perforation mechanisms of metallic targets have been investigated in some detail, far less progress has been made towards understanding the impact resistance of ductile polymers. The aim of this investigation is to identify the relationship between the projectile tip geometry and impact energy absorption of semi-crystalline thermoplastics. The focus of the study is light-weight monolithic plates of extruded polymer impacted normally by rigid projectiles at velocities up to 100 ms −1 . Three polymers will be considered: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Polyethylene provides a convenient test material, as variations in microstructure provide a contrast in mechanical properties, without significant variations in density. Three distinct projectile nose shapes are considered: blunt, hemi-spherical and conical. For a conical tip, perforation occurs by ductile hole expansion. For this nose shape the high yield strength and strain rate sensitivity of HDPE offers an advantage over the other two polyethylenes. Perforation by blunt and hemi-spherical projectiles is more sensitive to deformation localisation. The high strain hardening of UHMWPE, which increases with strain rate, results in a significantly greater impact resistance than either HDPE or LDPE. The perforation mechanisms and energy absorption of these PE plates are contrasted with those of thin aluminium alloy targets that have the same total mass. UHMWPE outperforms these metallic targets for all three projectile nose shapes. Finally, the influence of target thickness on the impact perforation of LDPE is considered. All three nose shapes show a linear increase in perforation energy with target thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the penetration behaviour of a Mild Steel Cored (MSC) round, 7.62 mm in diameter and 39 mm in length, commonly known as the AK47 round, was studied since it still forms an important part of the threat spectrum for personnel body armour systems. Likewise, boron carbide strike face materials were selected since this armour material is often the material of choice for ultralightweight body armour systems for protection against this particular threat. The presence of two, relatively soft, intermediate materials (the copper jacket and filler material of the bullet, and a fibre-reinforced polymer cladding layer on the ceramic) between the mild steel core and the boron carbide target was examined using reverse ballistics techniques, flash x-radiography and round recovery measurements. This was supported by selective numerical simulations using the computer code ANSYS-AUTODYN. It was found that stripping of the jacket, from the AK47 MSC rounds, makes a difference to its penetrating ability: the mild steel core is significantly reduced in length, and mass, when the jacket is not present. The magnitude of this effect is much greater than previously reported for high-strength steel-cored rounds and for tungsten carbide-cored rounds. The penetration event appears to be a twostage process: mushrooming of the mild steel core on, or near, the surface of the ceramic, followed by a linear erosion process as the core penetrates the ceramic itself. The second step has not been reported previously for MSC rounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a simple formulation for the impact analysis of a deformable projectile on reinforced concrete targets. This approach assumes the presence of soft strikers and rigid targets. Based on an energy balance, it aims to predict a perforation limit for different targets under soft impacts. The procedure employed is validated by means of tests performed on a rigid target (pendulum test) and reinforced concrete slabs. The article discusses various estimations of the crushing force of projectiles, as derived from experimental results and numerical approaches. The efficiency of simplified approaches is highlighted from an engineering point of view. The limit between soft and hard impacts is also analyzed according to a recent criterion. Moreover, the paper proposes validating the approach using experimental tests with both perforating and non-perforating impact tests on nine slabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ballistic performance of an armour steel at different tempering conditions against a tungsten heavy alloy long rod kinetic energy projectile has been investigated. The ballistic performance was found to increase with decreasing tempering temperature but the performance increments were not proportional to the strength increase caused by the tempering. Both target and projectile underwent fragmentation at the penetration interface in all the three targets. Apart from the strength target material deformation behaviour also showed considerable influence on ballistic performance. The ballistic performance appears to increase with decreasing toughness for a given strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The database for depth of penetration by projectiles into semi-infinite targets is quite extensive. The objective is to use the experimental semi-infinite penetration data to predict finite-thickness target effects. Similitude considerations are used to represent penetration response as a function of a normalized impact velocity, which is the ratio of the penetration pressure to the target strength. Then, a least-squares regression analysis methodology was applied to the normalized experimental data to provide an analytic expression for the normalized depth of penetration as a function of the normalized impact velocity over a very large velocity range, typically a few hundred meters per second to over 3500 m/s. We use the analytic expression, along with some simplifying assumptions, to estimate ballistic limit thickness T 50 and/or the ballistic limit velocity V 50 . If a target is overmatched, i.e., perforated by the projectile, an estimate is also made for the projectile residual velocity and residual length. The experimental data on which the regression fit is based consists of L / D 10 projectiles, so a procedure is also developed to account for different projectile aspect ratios. A series of examples are provided to demonstrate the utility and accuracy of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deflection of projectile nose is aimed at changing the motion of the projectile in flight with the theory of motion control and changing the exterior ballistics so as to change its range and increase its accuracy. The law of external ballistics with the deflectable nose is considered as the basis of the design of a flight control system and an important part in the process of projectile development. Based on the existing rigid external ballistic model, this paper establishes an external ballistic calculation model for deflectable nose projectile and further establishes the solving programs accordingly. Different angle of attack, velocity, coefficients of lift, resistance, and moment under the deflection can be obtained in this paper based on the previous experiments and emulation researches. In the end, the author pointed out the laws on the impaction of external ballistic trajectory by the deflection of nose of the missile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study describes the ballistic impact behaviour of a high strength metastable near beta Ti alloy, β-CEZ in different microstructural conditions against 7.62 mm armour piercing projectiles. Ballistic trials were carried out on 10 mm thick β-CEZ and Ti–6Al–4V plates clamped with 50 mm thick 7017 Al alloy backing. The ballistic performance of different conditions was evaluated by measuring residual depth of penetration (DOP) in 50 mm thick Al-7017 alloy backing. In the present study, even though the β-CEZ titanium alloy in as-rolled and α + β solution treated + aged conditions had significantly higher strength and hardness compared to conventionally used Ti–6Al–4V, significant improvement in ballistic impact resistance was not observed. Post ballistic microstructural observation of crater cross section showed formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) and ASB induced cracks in all conditions. As-rolled, α + β solution treated and aged conditions of β-CEZ alloy showed more ASBs, ASB induced cracks in comparison to Ti–6Al–4V. The β-solution treated and quenched condition of β-CEZ had less number of ASB and highest residual depth of penetration. In this study the ballistic results are discussed based on the post ballistic microstructural observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of projectile shape and angle of incidence has been studied on the ballistic limit, failure mechanism and angle of ricochet. The Weldox 460 E steel target of 12mm thickness was subjected to impact by steel projectiles of 20mm diameter and six different internal nose-angles, namely 33.4°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150° and 180°. The angle of incidence of the projectiles was also varied as 0°, 15°, 30°, 45° and 60° or until the ricochet of the projectile occurred. The ballistic limit, angle of ricochet and failure mode of the target was studied corresponding to each angle of incidence and projectile shape. The residual velocities for each projectile were also computed using available analytical expressions and the same were compared with their numerical values. The results thus obtained are presented and influence thereon due to the variation in the nose-angle and obliquity of impact are discussed. The ballistic limit was found to increase with an increase in the angle of target obliquity and decrease in projectile nose angle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a ballistic impact simulation of an armour-piercing projectile in hybrid ceramic/fiber reinforced composite armour. The armour is composed by an alumina plate and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composite. In order to model the armour behavior three different constitutive models were formulated and implemented into ABAQUS/Explicit finite element code. Comparisons between numerical predictions and experimental results in terms of damage shape/extent and V50 are also presented and discussed in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present paper presents an experimental and numerical study concerning the deformation and failure behavior in the Taylor impact test. Projectiles manufactured from a commercial high strength and super-hard aluminum alloy 7A04-T6 with a nominal diameter of 12.6mm and a length of 50.8mm were fired against a hardened tool steel plate by a one- and two-stage compressed gas gun within the velocity range of 175–370m/s. Three different deformation and failure modes were observed from the test: mushrooming, shear cracking and fragmentation. Individual velocity ranges and the transitions between the deformation/failure modes are identified by both experiments and numerical simulations. Slightly modified Johnson–Cook models of strength and accumulative damage failure are employed in 3D numerical simulations to describe material behavior of the striking cylinders. Good agreement between the numerical simulations and the experimental results was found. Detailed computational results of each scenario are offered to understand the deformation and failure mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have studied the sequence of events that occurs when a high-speed projectile (from 960ms−1 to 1480ms−1) penetrates a vessel filled with toxic liquid. We find that prior to liquid ejection several well-defined phases occur, including the phenomenon known as the “hydraulic ram.” Then a catastrophic tank failure leads to liquid ejection and fragmentation. This paper focuses on this phenomenon and explains how it can be related to the initial conditions of the target. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The oblique and normal perforation of a concrete target subjected to a rigid projectile impact is studied in this paper. A general three-stages model, i.e., initial cratering, tunnelling and shear plugging, is developed based on dynamic cavity expansion theory and plug formation. Analytical solutions for the ballistic performance and the perforation limit of concrete target are obtained. The proposed formulae are consistent with other empirical formulae and correlate well with the experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With the increase of impact velocity, penetration mechanism may change at a transition point from nondeformable projectile penetration regime to semihydrodynamic penetration regime. Analysis is presented to predict this transition point. Good agreements between analytical predictions and experimental results are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]