Analysis of ceramic/metal armour systems

A combined numerical and experimental study for the analysis of ceramic/metal composite armour system against 40.7 g steel projectiles has been performed. The ballistic performance of the add-on lightweight armours was examined by varying the thickness of tiles, while maintaining equal areal density of the system. A numerical study using smoothed particle hydrodynamics scheme is promising since the major distinguishing features of composite armour systems such as, projectile erosion, crack propagation, ceramic conoid formation and failure of backing plate, are successfully captured. Simulation results for ballistic limits appear to match fairly well with the test values and reveal an optimum value of the front plate to back plate thickness ratio. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.