Finite element model validation for a 14.5 mm armor piercing bullet impact on a multi-layered add-on armor plate

Abstract

For armor plates testing and evaluation the use of modeling and simulation tools, together with a validated finite element model is a reliable approach in respect to a firing conducted session. The paper presents the validation of an advanced finite element model on the impact between two 14,5 mm armor piercing bullets with a multilayered add-on armor plate made by aluminum alloy, alumina tiles, aramid fabric woven, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber composite and a steel plate. An 8 mm thick armor steel witness plate was placed at 2 cm behind the add-on plate. The real tests were conducted in a firing range and a chronograph was used to measure the values of the bullet impact velocities. The test results showed that the first bullet penetrates the witness plate and the second bullet only deforms it. A three-dimensional finite element model of the bullet and armor plates was conceived to perform the impact simulations in LS-DYNA. Tensile and compression tests, as well as other scientific methods were employed to establish the strength and failure model parameters for each material. The results of the finite element model follow the experimental ones regarding the yaw angle assumptions that were applied for a simulation scenario.