Design of an add-on ceramic composite armour against 14.5 × 114 mm API/B32 projectile for the armoured vehicles and investigation of the ballistic performance of the armour

Abstract

Abstract A ceramic/composite add-on armour system with innovative ceramic geometry (cylindrical) against 14.5 × 114 mm API/B32 projectile was developed and ballistic performance of the armour was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Numerical analysis was used to calculate exit velocities of the projectile after passing through the ceramic/composite layer (before penetrating the Armox 500T which simulates hull structure of an armoured vehicle) and also contributed to the selection of optimum ceramic thickness. The calculated projectile velocity-time curves (from numerical analysis) for three different ceramic thicknesses are given comparatively in the study. The curve characteristics are the same for three different analyses. The duration of the total absorption of the projectile energy is about 0.2 microseconds (ms). There were differences in the transmission of the stress wave and the delamination in the Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) layers differed as ceramic thickness increases. The separation between the layers varied with the change in projectile energy. As a result of the ballistic test, the armour prevented 14.5 × 114 mm API/B32 ammunition with desired damage mechanisms. In the x-ray image taken after the shootings, it was seen that the ceramic damage was local which enhanced multi-hit resistance capability and the geometry of the cylindrical alumina played an important role in the localization of the ceramic zone damage during the projectile penetration process. Due to this cylindrical ceramic geometry, the projectile moving on after the moment of impact constantly encounters a curved and new surface, and thus it is deflected and exposed to more wear. The areal density of the armour was also reduced by using the UHMWPE (which is one of the composite material whose fibres have the lowest density and good mechanical properties) composite plate as the backing plate.