Ballistic Simulation and Verification of Ceramic/rubber Composite Armour

Abstract

In this study, the ballistic performance of composite armour which impacted by 7.62×54 mm projectile at velocity of 850 m/s was investigated both experimentally and numerically. The composite amour consists of alumina ceramic, polyurethane rubber and kevlar49 fiber which was designed and combined with by 6.5 mm thick armox-500T steel as blacking plate. Two composite armour systems with different mechanical properties of 97wt% alumina and 10wt% zirconia toughened alumina ceramic were compared. The distribution of kinetic energy versus time of alumina ceramic layer and backing plate were numerically explained by using explicit finite element also. The results showed that the initial velocity of projectile decreased when it impacted on the composite armour. The kinetic energy absorption by the 10wt% zirconia toughened alumina was more efficient than 97wt% alumina ceramic about 40% due to the fact that the backing plate with 10wt% zirconia toughened alumina layer affected less stress and less impact energy. Furthermore, the results of the ceramic layer analyzed by X-ray radiographic technique were in good agreement with finite element results. Therefore, 10wt% zirconia toughened alumina ceramic can be the promising material for the further armour system development.