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Numerical Investigation into the Influence of Thickness Ratio and Lateral Size of Ceramic on the Ballistic Performance of Ceramic/Metal Armor
L. Dou1,2, L. He1, Y. Yin1, Y. Li3
1 Institute of Systems Engineering, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, China
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Sichuan College of Architectural Technology, Deyang, China
3 School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610039, China.
received March 18, 2023, received in revised form May 14, 2023, accepted May 28, 2023
Pages 55-72 DOI: 10.4416/JCST2023-00004
Abstract
Ceramic/metal bi-layer armor has received much attention due to its excellent ballistic protection performance, which is significantly contingent on configuration parameters like the ceramic/metal thickness ratio and lateral size of the ceramic. In the present manuscript, the ballistic response of 7.62-mm APM2 impacting AD995/5083-H116 armor is simulated. The ballistic limit is employed to quantitatively probe the influence of the thickness ratio, lateral size as well as coupling between two parameters on the ballistic performance. Numerical results manifest that an optimal thickness ratio exists for bi-layer armor, and several related mechanisms have been identified, such as perforative damage time, projectile/ceramic interaction time, dwell duration, fracture cone, and supporting effect of the backplate, etc. The lateral size acts on the ballistic property by strengthening or weakening the inertial self-restraint effect and changing the propagation distance of the tensile wave reflected from the lateral boundary of the ceramic. When the thickness ratio and lateral size are varied simultaneously, the ballistic limit decreases by less than 9.5 % for 1.1 ∼ 3.0 thickness ratio and 91 ∼ 152 mm lateral size even if it is in the most unfavorable situation. Accordingly, the armors within the above parameter ranges are capable of demonstrating a fascinating ballistic performance. The parameter value ranges given specifically are conducive to the optimal design of armor.
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Keywords
Penetration, ballistic performance, ballistic limit, thickness ratio, lateral size
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