The ballistic performance of confined Al 2O 3 ceramic tiles

Abstract

The penetration of aluminum oxide tiles inserted into a 4340-steel block that also serves as a “semi-infinite” steel substrate is investigated for two length-to-diameter projectiles at a nominal impact velocity of 1.5 km/s. The experimental observable is the depth of penetration of the projectile into the backup steel. These data are compared with the total penetration into semi-infinite steel. The data are analysed and displayed as normalized depth of penetration as a function of areal density and tile thickness. Data from Woolsey et al. ( Fifth Annual TACOM Armor Coordinating Conference , Monterey, CA, 1989) are in good agreement with data from this study, and are used to extend the range of tile thicknesses. A methodology, assuming quasi-steady-state penetration, provides an estimate of the penetration resistance R 1 of the ceramic tile; R 1 is then used to estimate the erosion rate and length of projectile eroded as it penetrates the ceramic. A second approach that does not rely as heavily on the assumption of steady-state penetration is also developed and applied to the data to estimate the length of projectile eroded. It is found that the various measures of ceramic performance, for a well-confined target, are relatively constant as tile thickness is varied.