Ballistic testing of transparent armour ceramics

The testing methodology for transparent armour is described. The focus of this paper is on the assessment of the protective strength of transparent ceramics being used in transparent armour systems. Not only the ballistic testing method but also experimental techniques which allow the visualization of damage and the projectile penetration are discussed. Visualization techniques are essential for understanding the mechanisms of interaction between projectile and target material. Ballistic tests results, high-speed photographs and flash-radiographs from experiments with transparent armour are presented. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.