Effects of Thickness and Thickness Ratio in Alumina-Aluminum Layered Structure on Ballistic Performance against Steel Core Projectile

Abstract

The effects of the thickness and thickness ratio of a ceramic-metal composite on the ballistic performance against a small caliber round was investigated. Sets of alumina (AD85)- aluminum (AL5083) layered structures having different thicknesses and thickness ratios were designed. Ballistic tests using steel core projectiles were performed to obtain the V50 ballistic limit for each set. In addition, ballistic limits were estimated using Woodward’s analytical model and were compared with the test results. The test results show that the ballistic efficiency increased with increasing thickness of the alumina tile at constant aluminum plate thickness, while efficiency decreased with increasing thickness of the aluminum plate at constant alumina tile thickness. At constant areal density, the highest ballistic efficiency was obtained when the thickness ratio of the alumina tile/aluminum plate was 1.7, which was 15% higher than the lowest value. The computational analysis results exhibited good agreement with the test results.