Ballistic performance of alumina/S-2 glass-reinforced polymer-matrix composite hybrid lightweight armor against armor piercing (ap) and non-AP projectiles

M. Grujicic, B. Pandurangan, U. Zecevic, K. L. Koudela, B. A. Cheeseman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability of light-weight all fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composite armor and hybrid composite-based armor hard-faced with ceramic tiles to withstand the impact of a non-Armor-Piercing (non-AP) and AP projectiles is investigated using a transient non-linear dynamics computational analysis. The results obtained confirm experimental findings that the all-composite armor, while being able to successfully defeat non-AP threats, provides very little protection against AP projectiles. In the case of the hybrid armor, it is found that, at a fixed overall areal density of the armor, there is an optimal ratio of the ceramic-to-composite areal densities which is associated with a maximum ballistic armor performance against AP threats. The results obtained are rationalized using an analysis based on the shock/blast wave reflection and transmission behavior at the hard-face/air, hard-face/backing and backing/air interfaces, projectiles' wear and erosion and the intrinsic properties of the constituent materials of the armor and the projectiles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)287-312
Number of pages26
JournalMultidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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