A Computational Study of Laminate Transparent Armor Impacted by FSP

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA503242 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The current report reports on our efforts to simulate the ballistic impact of a fragment simulating projectile FSP into a Lexan 9034 polycarbonate PC- polymethyl-methacrylate PMMA, which was a Plexiglas G manufactured by Atofina Chemicals, - Lexan 9034 Polycarbonate laminate system, with and without the presence of polyurethane adhesive, using the nonlinear analysis software AUTODYN. The simulation results, which included V50 measurements, were compared to the ballistic results from the experiments of Hsieh et al, on targets consisting of 3mm PC-12mm PMMA-3mm PC impacted by 17-gr, 0.22 caliber fragment simulating projectile FSP at impact velocities ranging from 173, 475, 846 and 1004 ms. Our simulations of the impact of a 0.22-cal FSP projectile against the above laminated target showed that the existing material models were not able to reproduce the ballistic behavior of the PC-PMMA-PC target for transparent armor applications. However, the reproduction of the cracks in the PMMA and the predicted V50 impact velocity was achieved by modifying the existing material models of PMMA by adding a material strength model and a failure criterion. The necessary parameters of the chosen strength and failure models were obtained from published data. Our simulation showed that the presence of the polyurethane provide an additional resistance to penetration, as it is witnessed by the experimentation. The simulation results and the effectiveness of the modifications of the existing PMMA material models will be discussed in detail.

Author(s):
Fountzoulas, C. G. ; Cheeseman, B. A. ; Dehmer, P. G. ; Sands, J. M.
Author Organization(s):
ARMY RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD WEAPONS AND MATERIALS RESEARCH DIRECTORATE
Descriptive Note:
Conference paper
Supplementary Note:
Presented at the International Symposium on Ballistics (23rd), held in Tarragona, Spain, on 16-20 Apr 2007. Published in the proceedings of the conference, v2 p873-881, 2007. The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0014

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
ARL-RP-249
Monitor Series:
ARL/MR
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_1.2.7_Experimentation; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_8_Building Partnerships
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*FRAGMENTS, *ARMOR, *PROJECTILES, MEASUREMENT, SYMPOSIA, COMPUTATIONS, IMPACT, MODELS, LAMINATES, COMPARISON, CRACKS, FAILURE, TRANSPARENCE, TARGETS, PENETRATION, STRENGTH(GENERAL), NONLINEAR ANALYSIS, POLYURETHANE RESINS, POLYCARBONATES, ADHESIVES, REPRINTS, PLEXIGLAS, VELOCITY, SIMULATION
Field(s)/Group(s):
Ammunition and Explosives, Armor
Keyword(s):
FSP(FRAGMENT SIMULATING PROJECTILES), TRANSPARENT ARMOR, STRENGTH AND FAILURE MODELS, PMMA(POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE)
Report Date:
2009 Jun 01
Creation Date:
2009 Aug 26