The Effect of Transparent Ceramic Tiles Weak-Spots on the Ballistic Resistance of Transparent Armor

Abstract

A comparative test was conducted on full-scale ballistic samples in order to evaluate changes in the ballistic resistance of ceramic-based transparent armor solutions in relation to structural features of their mosaic pattern. This study was done in cooperation with CeramTec-ETEC which supplied PERLUCOR® transparent spinel, and OSG which produced and tested the complete armor solutions. Transparent ceramic tiles were arranged in a seam mosaic-pattern and in a junction mosaic-pattern, and their results were compared with center of tile impacts performed under similar conditions. A total of 42 ballistic samples were tested according to the multi-hit requirements of ATPD-2352T Protection Class 3a. The general outcome of this study is that ceramic tiles’ weak-spots reduce overall ballistic performance, and that the mosaic pattern as well as the tile size should be designed according to the multi-hit shot-spacing to minimize these effects.