An Investigation of the Experimental and Numerical Ballistic Response of 12.7mm AP tracer Projectile Against Al2O3/Al 5083-H116 Bi-layer Armour

Haroon Ahmed ,Aamir Mubashar ,Emad Uddin ,S Waheed Ul Haq

doi:10.21152/1750-9548.15.2.119

Abstract

This study revolves around the ballistic response of Al2O3/Al 5083-H116 bi-layer armour against 12.7 mm AP tracer projectile. The study features the experimental and numerical study where the penetration of the AP projectile through a semi-infinite Al 5083-H116 target and Al2O3/Al 5083-H116 armour were determined. The semi-infinite Al 5083-H116 target consisted of three aluminium plates where the projectiles penetrated the first two plates. On the other hand, the bi-layer Al2O3/Al 5083-H116 armour arrested the armour piercing projectile after it penetrated the ceramic plate. A FEA model was also developed to investigate the impact phenomenon and predict the depth of penetration. High strain-rate deformation of ceramic material was modelled with JH-2, and that of the Al 5083-H116 was modelled with Johnson-cook material model. During the impact simulation the progressive failure of the AP tracer projectile was observed. The predicted residual penetration depth and the hole size in the ceramic plate were lower than the experimentally observed values. Ballistic efficiency factor of the Al2O3/Al 5083-H116 bi-layer armour was higher than one showing that the bi-layer armour was better in terms of mass efficiency and space efficiency in comparison to Al 5083-H116 armour.

Highlights

Ceramics have lower density and higher compressive strength than steels that makes them more suited as protection against armour piercing projectiles
The thin aluminium sheets at the front and back of the ceramic material deformed by forming curved petals
The ceramic plate owing to brittle fracture absorbed most of the energy of 12.7 mm tracer Armour Piercing (AP) projectile

Summary

Introduction

Ceramics have lower density and higher compressive strength than steels that makes them more suited as protection against armour piercing projectiles. The tip of the projectile is broken by a ceramic front plate and a back plate of ductile material absorbs the impact of the fractured AP projectile and completely stops the projectile. Ceramic materials usually used in armour systems include Alumina (Al2O3, Silicon-Carbide (SiC) and Boron-Carbide (B4C). The ballistic performance of ceramic armours can be evaluated by determining the ballistic performance measure. Relative performance measures are used to compare the performance of different penetrators and material combination. An Investigation of the Experimental and Numerical Ballistic Response of 12.7mm

Methods

Results

Conclusion