Penetration Resistance Of Laminated Plates From Steel And Flbreglass-reinforced Polyester

Abstract

Ballistic tests are performed to investigate the effect of target configuration on ballistic performance when struck by standard bullets at different velocities. Firstly, single mild steel plates, 1 to 8 mm thick are tested, and the effects of thickness and mechanical properties of plate material are explored. Secondly, in-contact laminae comprising 8 mm-thick targets, and spaced laminae of the same total steel thickness, are tested, and the effect of number, thickness, and arrangement of laminae determined. In addition, Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester (FRP) is used as a filler material for targets with spaced steel laminae, and the influence on the ballistic performance is investigated. In each experiment, the specific velocity drop, defined as the bullet velocity divided by the total travel through the target, is calculated and taken to measure target performance. Results show that single targets are more effective than laminated ones of the same total thickness, regardless of configuration or striking velocity. Moreover, the effectiveness of laminated targets, in contact or spaced, increases as the number of laminae comprising each target decreases. Performance of laminated targets is further enhanced by using the thickest lamina as the back lamina. Finally, steel-FRP targets show better performance than weight-equivalent steel targets.