Geometrical effects on performances of ceramic/metal armors impacted by projectiles

The AUTODYN code was applied to investigate the performance changes of the ceramic/metal armors under ballistic impact with the different geometrical parameters. A two-dimensional axisymmetric SPH-Lagrange model was developed, and it was validated by the experimental results. By using the SPH-Lagrange model, numerical simulations were carried out for the impact of the alumina ceramic/aluminum armors by the cylindrical tungsten projectiles in the cases of the different geometrical parameters. Based on the simulation results, the armor ballistic limit velocities of the armors were discussed considering the thicknesses and planar sizes of the armor plates as well as the lengths and diameters of the projectiles. Dimensional analysis was performed to achieve a dimensionless formula for describing the armor ballistic limit velocity varied with the geometrical parameters. And the corresponding empirical formula was given on the basis of the numerical data.