Ballistic Limit of Single and Layered Aluminium Plates

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental and finite‐element investigation of ballistic limit of thin single and layered aluminium target plates. Blunt‐, ogive‐ and hemispherical‐nosed steel projectiles of 19 mm diameter were impacted on single and layered aluminium target plates of thicknesses 0.5, 0.71, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3 mm with the help of a pressure gun to obtain the ballistic limit in each case. The ballistic limit of target plate was found to be considerably affected by the projectile nose shape. Thin monolithic target plates as well as layered in‐contact plates offered lowest ballistic resistance against the impact of ogive‐nosed projectiles. Thicker monolithic plates on the other hand, offered lowest resistance against the impact of blunt‐nosed projectiles. The ballistic resistance of the layered targets decreased with increase in the number of layers for constant overall target thickness. Axi‐symmetric numerical simulations were performed with ABAQUS/Explicit to compare the numerical predictions with experiments. 3D numerical simulations were also performed for single plate of 1.0 mm thickness and two layered plate of 0.5 mm thickness impacted by blunt‐, ogive‐ and hemispherical‐nosed projectiles. Good agreement was found between the numerical simulations and experiments. 3D numerical simulations accurately predicted the failure mode of target plates.     

Experimental and numerical studies on the behavior of thin aluminum plates subjected to impact by blunt- and hemispherical-nosed projectiles

Experiments were conducted on aluminum plates of 1 mm thickness by using a gas gun and projectiles with blunt and hemispherical noses. Target plate was impacted with varying impact velocity. Impact and residual velocities of the projectile were measured. Ballistic limit velocity was found to be higher for hemispherical projectiles than that for blunt projectiles. Effect of nose shape on the deformation of the plate was also studied. Numerical simulations of the impact were conducted by using an explicit finite element code (ABAQUS). Johnson–Cook elasto-viscoplastic model available in the code was used to carryout the analysis. Material property tests were carried out with the help of smooth and notched tensile test specimens. Results obtained from finite element simulations were compared with those of experiments. Good correlation was found between the two. It was observed that the element size significantly affects the numerical results; therefore a sufficiently refined mesh was used. Adaptive meshing was found helpful especially in the case of impact by a hemispherical projectile.     

3D numerical simulations of sharp nosed projectile impact on ductile targets

Three-dimensional FE model is presented for perforation under normal and oblique impact of sharp nosed projectiles on single and layered ductile targets. Numerical simulations have been carried out to study the behavior of Weldox 460 E steel and 1100-H12 aluminum targets impacted by conical and ogive nosed steel projectiles respectively. Weldox 460 E steel targets of 12 mm thickness in single and double layered combination (2 × 6 mm) and 1100-H12 aluminum targets of 1 mm thickness in single and double layered combination (2 × 0.5 mm) impacted at 0°, 15° and 30° obliquity were considered for simulations. The results of monolithic and layered targets were compared for each angle of impact. Monolithic targets were found to have higher ballistic resistance than that of the layered in-contact targets of equivalent thickness. Failure of both the targets occurred through ductile hole enlargement. However, ogive nosed projectile failed 1 mm thick aluminum target through petal formation and conical nosed projectile failed 12 mm thick steel target through a circular or elliptical hole enclosed by a bulge at rear surface. The explicit algorithm of ABAQUS finite element code was used to carry out the numerical simulations. Various parameters which play critical role in numerical simulation such as element size and its aspect ratio have been studied.     

Perforation experiments on HY-100 steel plates with 4340 Rc 38 and maraging T-250 steel rod projectiles

We conducted perforation experiments with 4340 R_c 38 and maraging T-250 steel, long rod projectiles and HY-100 steel target plates at striking velocities between 80 and 370 m/s. Flat-end rod projectiles with lengths of 89 and 282 mm were machined to nominally 30-mm-diameter so they could be launched from a 30-mm-powder gun without sabots. The target plates were rigidly clamped at a 305-mm-diameter and had nominal thicknesses of 5.3 and 10.5 mm. Four sets of experiments were conducted to show the effects of rod length and plate thickness on the measured ballistic limit and residual velocities. In addition to measuring striking and residual projectile velocities, we obtained framing camera data on the back surfaces of several plates that showed clearly the plate deformation and plug ejection process.     

Analytical and numerical investigation of polyurea layered aluminium plates subjected to high velocity projectile impact

This paper discusses on the penetration of high velocity projectiles through aluminium–polyurea composite layered plate systems. An analytical model has been proposed to predict the residual velocity of aluminium–polyurea composite plates, and validated with both experimental and numerical investigations. Full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles (5.56 mm × 45 mm), corresponding to NATO standard SS109, were fired at the aluminium–polyurea composite layered plate systems from a distance of 10.0 m at a fixed velocity of 945 m/s. Four different composite plate configurations were used with thicknesses varying from 16 to 34 mm. Each configuration consisted of six specimens. Residual velocities for each individual test were recorded. Numerical simulations of the penetration process have been performed using advanced finite element code LS-DYNA®. The well-established Johnson–Cook and Mooney–Rivlin material models were used to represent the stress–strain behaviour of aluminium and polyurea in the numerical analysis. The analytical and numerical models provided good approximations for the residual velocities measured during the experimental tests. Polyurea layers contributed positively towards the reduction of residual velocity of the projectile in composite plate systems. In addition, ballistic limit curves for different composite systems have been established based on the validated models. As the results showed that polyurea contributes positively towards the reduction of residual velocity of projectiles, the findings of this study can be effectively used for the similar applications in future armour industry.     

The effect of target strength on the perforation of steel plates using three different projectile nose shapes

The effect of target strength on the perforation of steel plates is studied. Three structural steels are considered: Weldox 460 E, Weldox 700 E and Weldox 900 E. The effects of strain hardening, strain rate hardening, temperature softening and stress triaxiality on material strength and ductility are determined for these steel alloys by conducting three types of tensile tests: quasi-static tests with smooth and notched specimens, quasi-static tests at elevated temperatures and dynamic tests over a wide range of strain rates. The test data are used to determine material constants for the three different steels in a slightly modified version of the Johnson–Cook constitutive equation and fracture criterion.Using these three steel alloys, perforation tests are carried out on 12 mm-thick plates with blunt-, conical- and ogival-nosed projectiles. A compressed gas gun was used to launch projectiles within the velocity range from 150 to 350 m/s. The initial and residual velocities of the projectile were measured, while the perforation process was captured using a digital high-speed camera system. Based on the test data the ballistic limit velocity was obtained for the three steels for the different nose shapes. The experimental results indicate that for perforation with blunt projectiles the ballistic limit velocity decreases for increasing strength, while the opposite trend is found in tests with conical and ogival projectiles. The tests on Weldox 700 E and Weldox 900 E targets with conical-nosed projectiles resulted in shattering of the projectile nose tip during penetration.Finally, numerical simulations of some of the experimental tests are carried out using the non-linear finite element code LS-DYNA. It is found that the numerical code is able to describe the physical mechanisms in the perforation events with good accuracy. However, the experimental trend of a decrease in ballistic limit with an increase in target strength for blunt projectiles is not obtained with the numerical models used in this study.     

The effect of impact velocity and target thickness on ballistic performance of layered plates using Taguchi method

This paper presents the effect of test parameters such as Impact velocity, configuration and target thickness on ballistic performance of weldox steel plates against 7.62 mm APM2 projectile using Taguchi method. Trials were planned using an L 18 orthogonal array with 18 combinations of test variables to assess the influence of various factors. Numerical simulations have been carried out using Ansys Autodyn code with the above three process variables. Failure mechanisms of target plates of various single and multi-layered configurations were also discussed. Most portion of the kinetic energy of the projectile was expended in plastic deformation of the target material before perforation due to better bending stiffness of the target plate. Results showed that target thickness and impact velocity were the significant variables on residual velocity. Layer configuration was found to be insignificant relating to ballistic performance. Significant interaction is observed between impact velocity and target thickness from interaction plots. Simulated and experimental results showed good agreement with each other.     

Ballistic limit for oblique impact of thin sandwich panels and spaced plates

Ballistic perforations of monolithic steel sheets, two-layered sheets and lightweight sandwich panels were investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experiments were performed using a short cylindrical projectile with either a flat or hemispherical nose that struck the target plate at an angle of obliquity. A total of 170 tests were performed at angles of obliquity 0–45°. The results suggest that during perforation by a flat-nosed projectile, layered plates cause more energy loss than monolithic plates of the same material and total thickness. There was no significant difference in the measured ballistic limit speed between monolithic plates and layered plates during oblique impact perforation by a hemispherical-nosed projectile.     

Normal impact of truncated oval-nosed projectiles on stiffened plates

The objective of this paper is to investigate the perforation capability of projectiles against stiffened plates and to determine how many stiffened plates can be perforated by projectiles. Some important experimental results on the perforation of stiffened plates, of a variety of configurations, by truncated oval-nosed projectiles at normal impact are introduced. A four-stage analytical model is formulated for the dynamic perforation of stiffened plates by rigid projectiles. By adopting an energy method, the model can be used to predict accurately the residual velocity of the projectiles. Numerical simulations have been performed for projectiles against single and layered plates adopted in the experiments. The perforation process is explored and deformation and failure modes are obtained. Good agreement is obtained between the numerical simulations, theoretical predictions and experimental results.     

圆锥头弹体冲击复合材料层合板数值模拟

采用ABAQUS软件建立了圆锥头弹体正冲击复合材料层合板的有限元模型,并与已有文献结果进行对比验证了模型的可靠性,进而研究圆锥头弹体以不同的入射角度冲击复合材料层合板时初始速度与剩余速度的关系、复合材料层合板的破坏形态及弹体发生跳弹的规律。结果表明：弹体以90°入射角冲击复合材料层合板,在距离临界速度较大时,弹体的剩余速度与初始速度呈线性关系;不同的初始速度对复合材料层合板的损伤面积和破坏机制也不相同;弹体的入射角度越小、复合材料层合板越厚,越容易产生跳弹现象,并给出了入射角度和铺陈层数对跳弹现象的影响规律。该研究可为各种防护装备的设计和优化提供参考。     

刚性钝头弹体正贯穿中厚金属靶的挤凿块速度模型

从挤凿破坏机理出发,考虑了能量守恒定律和剪切冲塞模型,提出了适用于刚性钝头弹体(平头、半球形头、球形)正贯穿中厚金属靶的挤凿块速度模型。设计了穿甲实验,以直径8 mm钨球正冲击3 mm厚GH4169靶板,得到了球形弹体相应的挤凿块数据,结合文献中平头和半球形头弹体实验数据验证了挤凿块速度模型的适用性,模型计算结果与实验数据一致性良好。提出的挤凿块速度模型可用于计算挤凿块对靶后目标的毁伤能力。     

Mg/Al波纹复合板抗冲击性能研究

目的 比对波纹轧制结构和平面复合结构的Mg/Al复合板抗冲击性能与吸能机制.方法 采用波纹辊轧制工艺制备Mg/Al复合板,使用半球形铝合金弹丸对传统平面复合板与波纹复合板进行不同速度下的冲击试验研究,并对比分析2种复合板的损伤机理,探明波纹结构对复合板抗冲击性能的影响.结果 Mg/Al平面复合板抗半球形弹丸冲击的吸能机制主要是通过靶板的塑性变形、剪切破坏、拉伸断裂、分层破坏和弹丸与靶板间摩擦等形式来吸收能量.波纹复合板对冲击能量的吸收主要依赖靶板的局部塑性变形、沿着波纹方向的开裂、结合界面的分层以及弹丸与靶板间的摩擦耗能.结论 当冲击速度低于弹道极限速度时,波纹复合板的抗冲击性能优于平面复合板,高于弹道极限速度时,2种复合板的抗冲击性能和耗能程度相当.     

Normal impact of ogive nosed projectiles on thin plates

Single plates of aluminium of various thicknesses were subjected to normal impact by ogive nosed projectiles at velocities normally greater than their ballistic limit. The observed values of the residual velocity and ballistic limit are presented and influence thereon of various parameters is discussed. Based on the mechanism of deformation observed and the data of residual and incident velocities, analytical and empirical relations have respectively been developed for the determination of both residual velocity and ballistic limit. These relations are seen to match the experiments well.     

Perforation of AA5083-H116 aluminium plates with conical-nose steel projectiles—experimental study

The interest regarding use of aluminium alloys in lightweight protective structures is today increasing. Even so, the number of experimental and computational investigations giving detailed information on such problems is still rather limited. In this paper, perforation experiments have been performed on AA5083-H116 aluminium plates with thicknesses varying between 15 and 30 mm impacted by 20 mm diameter, 98 mm long, HRC 53 conical-nose hardened steel projectiles. In all tests, initial and residual velocities of the projectile were measured and a digital high-speed camera system was used to photograph the penetration and perforation process. Based on these measurements, impact versus residual velocity curves of the target plates were constructed and the ballistic limit velocity of each target was obtained. An analytical perforation model from the open literature is then used to predict the ballistic limit velocity, and excellent agreement with the experimental data is found. The experimental results are finally compared to similar experiments on steel and concrete targets, and the capacity of the different materials is evaluated in relation to total weight.     

Deformation and fracture of a long-rod projectile induced by an oblique moving plate: Experimental tests

The influence of projectile length to diameter ratio (15, 30 and 45), plate thickness (0.5, 1 and 2 projectile diameters), projectile velocity (1500, 2000 and 2500 m/s) and plate velocity (−300 to 300 m/s) on the interaction between long-rod tungsten projectiles and oblique steel plates (obliquity 60°) was studied experimentally in small-scale reverse impact tests. The residual projectiles and their motions were characterised in terms of changes in length, velocity, angular momentum, linear momentum and kinetic energy. The parameters found to have the largest influence on the disturbance of the projectile were the plate velocity, in particular its direction, and the thickness of the plate. In the ranges studied, the influence of length to diameter ratio and of projectile velocity were found to be less important.     

Experimental study of perforation of multi-layered targets by hemispherical-nosed projectiles

In this paper, perforation of single and three layered metallic targets by hemispherical-nosed cylindrical projectiles are studied experimentally. The circular targets of Al 1100 have a diameter of 220 mm and the hemispherical-nosed projectiles are silver steel cylinders with a mass of 12.15 g which are hardened to 56RC. The single layer target is 3 mm thick and the thicknesses of layers of the three layered targets are 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mm. The multi-layered targets are tested both when the layers are in-contact and spaced (with air gaps). Tests are carried out using a one stage gas gun. The ballistic limit velocity is obtained and the effects of order of layers and the width of air gaps between them on the ballistic limit velocity are investigated. The results show that the single layer targets have greater ballistic limit velocities than multi-layered targets. Furthermore, the ballistic limit velocity of in-contact layered targets is greater than that of spaced layered targets.     

弹体头部形状对碳纤维层合板抗冲击性能影响实验研究

为研究弹体头部形状对碳纤维层合板抗冲击性能的影响,利用一级气炮发射卵形头弹、半球形头弹和平头弹,对2 mm厚碳纤维层合板进行了冲击实验。利用公式拟合处理实验数据,揭示弹体头部形状对靶板弹道极限与能量吸收的影响,并且分析靶板冲击损伤形貌及机理特征。研究结果表明:平头弹弹道极限最高,半球形头弹次之,卵形头弹最低。弹体在低速度冲击时,弹体头部形状对靶板能量吸收率的影响更为显著。平头弹冲击时,靶板迎弹面受到均匀分布的环向剪切力,纤维同时被剪切,基体发生大面积剪切破坏。半球形头弹冲击时,靶板迎弹面受到非均匀分布的剪切力和挤压作用,纤维发生剪切断裂和拉伸断裂,基体发生剪切破坏和挤压破碎。卵形头弹冲击时,纤维发生单一的拉伸断裂,而基体则发生挤压破碎。弹体头部形状对靶板损伤的影响主要集中在迎弹面和中部纤维层。     

Numerical simulations of impact behaviour of thin steel plates subjected to cylindrical,conical and hemispherical non-deformable projectiles

In this paper, a numerical study of normal perforation of thin steel plates impacted by different projectile shapes is reported. The numerical simulations of this problem have been performed using a finite element code, ABAQUS-Explicit with a fixed and an adaptive mesh for the plate. To define the thermoviscoplastic behaviour of the material constituting the plate, the Johnson–Cook model has been used. This homogeneous behaviour has been coupled with the Johnson–Cook fracture criterion to predict completely the perforation process. Three kinds of projectile shape (blunt, conical and hemispherical) have been simulated with a large range of impact velocities from 190 to 600 m/s. The analysis considers the influence of adiabatic shear bands, plastic work and the gradient of temperature generated in the plate. The numerical results predict correctly the behaviour projectile-plate in agreement with experimental data published by other authors.     

On the influence of constitutive relation in projectile impact of steel plates

In this paper the influence of constitutive relation has been studied in numerical simulations of the perforation of 12-mm thick Weldox 460 E steel plates impacted by blunt-nosed projectiles in the sub-ordinance velocity regime. A modified version of the well-known and much used constitutive relation proposed by Johnson-Cook and both the bcc- and hcp-version of the Zerilli-Armstrong constitutive relation were combined with the Johnson-Cook fracture criterion. These models were implemented as user-defined material models in the non-linear finite element code LS-DYNA. Identification procedures have been proposed, and the different models were calibrated and validated for the target material using available experimental data obtained from tensile tests where the effects of strain rate, temperature and stress triaxiality were taken into account. Perforation tests carried out in a compressed gas gun on 12-mm-thick circular Weldox 460 E steel plates were then used as base in a validation study of plate perforation using LS-DYNA and the proposed constitutive relations. The numerical study indicated that the physical mechanisms during perforation can be qualitatively well predicted by all constitutive relations, but quantitatively more severe differences appear. The reasons for this are discussed in some detail. It was concluded that for practical applications, the Johnson-Cook constitutive relation and fracture criterion seems to be a good choice for this particular problem and excellent agreement with the experimental results of projectile impact on steel plates were obtained under the conditions investigated.     

Perforation of a thick plate by rigid projectiles

Perforation of a thick plate by rigid projectiles with various geometrical characteristics is studied in the present paper. The rigid projectile is subjected to the resistant force from the surrounding medium, which is formulated by the dynamic cavity expansion theory. Two perforation mechanisms, i.e., the hole enlargement for a sharp projectile nose and the plugging formation for a blunt projectile nose, are considered in the proposed analytical model. Simple and explicit formulae are obtained to predict the ballistic limit and residual velocity for the perforation of thick metallic plates, which agree with available experimental results with satisfactory accuracy.