Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance of Ceramic-Composite Armors under Ballistic Impact Loading

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Analysis of typical ceramic-composite armors is presented for their ballistic impact performance. Specifically, armor configurations are given for enhancing ballistic limit velocity with minimum armor areal density. The studies are performed using the analytical model presented earlier (Naik et al. in Int J Damage Mech 22(2):145–187, 2013). Wave theory and energy balance between the kinetic energy of the moving projectile and the energy absorbed by different mechanisms by both the armor and the projectile are considered. Analytical predictions and typical experimental results available in the literature are compared. A good match is observed. It is observed that in certain range of armor areal density, ballistic limit velocity remains the same. The explanation for such a behavior is provided considering different major energy absorbing mechanisms at different areal densities of the armor. Further, effects of armor configuration, incident impact velocity and ceramic plate material on ballistic impact performance are presented. Among the ceramic plate materials considered, alumina 99.9% gives higher ballistic limit velocity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AD:

Areal density of armor

A ql :

Quasi-lemniscate factor of composite backing plate

dP:

Diameter of projectile

E :

Total energy absorbed/energy absorbed

E m :

Modulus of elasticity

E mc :

Matrix cracking energy of composite backing plate

\( E_{x}^{\text{b}} \) :

In-plane modulus of backing plate

\( E_{z}^{\text{b}} \) :

Modulus in thickness direction of backing plate

\( G_{\text{IIc}}^{\text{b}} \) :

Strain energy release rate, mode II of backing plate

h :

Armor total thickness

h m :

Thickness of plate/layer

hI :

Layer thickness of composite backing plate

\( K_{{1{\text{c}}}}^{\text{c}} \) :

Fracture toughness

L :

Length of projectile

m p :

Mass of projectile

P d :

Delamination percentage of composite backing plate

P m :

Matrix cracking percentage of composite backing plate

s :

Second

\( Y_{\text{c}}^{\text{c}} \) :

Compressive strength of ceramic

SPm :

Shear plugging strength

t :

Time interval

T :

Contact duration

V :

Incident impact velocity

V r :

Residual velocity

V BL :

Ballistic limit velocity

\( V_{\text{f}}^{0} \) :

Fiber volume fraction

\( X_{\text{c}}^{\text{p}} \) :

Compressive strength of projectile

\( Y_{\text{t}}^{\text{c}} \) :

Tensile strength of ceramic

\( Y_{\text{c}}^{\text{b}} \) :

Compressive strength of backing plate

\( Y_{\text{t}}^{\text{b}} \) :

Tensile strength of backing plate

\( \varepsilon_{\text{cf}}^{\text{b}} \) :

% Compressive failure strain in thickness direction of composite backing plate

\( \varepsilon_{\text{cf}}^{\text{c}} \) :

% Compressive failure strain of ceramic

\( \varepsilon_{\text{tf}}^{\text{c}} \) :

% Tensile failure strain of ceramic

\( \varepsilon_{\text{cf}}^{\text{p}} \) :

% Compressive failure strain of projectile

\( \varepsilon_{\text{cf}}^{\text{r}} \) :

% Compressive failure strain of rubber

\( \varepsilon_{{x{\text{tf}}}}^{\text{b}} \) :

% In-plane tensile failure strain of composite backing plate

ρ m :

Density

\( \mu^{\text{m}} \) :

Poisson’s ratio

m > b:

Refers to composite backing plate

m > c:

Refers to ceramic plate

m > f:

Refers to front composite cover layer

m > p:

Refers to projectile

m > r:

Refers to rubber layer

References

  1. N.K. Naik, S. Kumar, D. Ratnaveer, M. Joshi, and K. Akella, An Energy-Based Model for Ballistic Impact Analysis of Ceramic-Composite Armors, Int. J. Damage Mech, 2013, 22(2), p 145–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. N.K. Naik and A.V. Doshi, Ballistic Impact Behaviour of Thick Composites: Parametric Studies, Compos. Struct., 2008, 82(3), p 447–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. K.S. Pandya, C.V.S. Kumar, N.S. Nair, P.S. Patil, and N.K. Naik, Analytical and Experimental Studies on Ballistic Impact Behavior of 2D Woven Fabric Composites, Int. J. Damage Mech, 2015, 24, p 471–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dynamic Ceramic Ltd., Material Data Sheet, Material Properties, http://www.dynacer.com/wpcontent/themes/devvine/PDF/Material%20Properties%20datasheet.pdf. Accessed 18 April 2020

  5. T.A. Otitoju, P.U. Okoye, G. Chen, Y. Li, M.O. Okoye, and S. Li, Advanced Ceramic Components: Materials, Fabrication, and Applications, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 2020, 85, p 34–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M.L.K. Brendan, J. Phillip, D. Mallick, B. Schuster, T. Sano, and J.D. Hogan, Influence of Microstructure on the Impact Failure of Alumina, Mater. Sci. Eng., A, 2020, 770, p 138549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. K.S. Pandya, S. Shaktivesh, H.L. Gowtham, A. Inani, and N.K. Naik, Shear Plugging and Frictional Behaviour of Composites and Fabrics Under Quasi-static Loading, Strain Int. J. Exp. Mech., 2015, 51(5), p 419–426

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. K.S. Pandya and N.K. Naik, Nanoparticle Dispersed Resins and Composites Under Quasi-static Loading: Shear Plugging Behavior, Polym. Compos., 2016, 37(12), p 3411–3415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. K. Akella and N.K. Naik, Composite Armour—A Review, J. Indian Inst. Sci. Multidiscip. Rev. J., 2015, 95(3), p 297–312

    Google Scholar 

  10. J.G. Hetherington and B.P. Rajagopalan, An Investigation into the Energy Absorbed During Ballistic Perforation of Composite Armours, Int. J. Impact Eng, 1991, 11(1), p 33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. I. Horsfall and D. Buckley, The Effect of Through-Thickness Cracks on the Ballistic Performance of Ceramic Armour Systems, Int. J. Impact Eng, 1996, 18(3), p 309–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. T.P.H.N. Krishna, S. Gurusamy, S. Kumar, R. Soni, B. John, R. Vaidya, A. Bhoge, and N.K. Naik, Ballistic Impact Performance of Metallic Targets, Mater. Des., 2012, 39, p 253–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Shaktivesh, N.S. Nair, C.V.S. Kumar, and N.K. Naik, Ballistic Impact Performance of Composite Targets, Mater. Des., 2013, 51, p 833–846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. G. Zhu, W. Goldsmith, and C.K.H. Dharan, Penetration of Laminated Kevlar by Projectiles—I. Experimental Investigation, Int. J. Solids Struct., 1992, 29(4), p 399–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S.T. Jenq, H.S. Jing, and C. Chung, Predicting the Ballistic Limit for Plain Woven Glass/Epoxy Composite Laminate, Int. J. Impact Eng, 1994, 15(4), p 451–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. S.V. Potti and C.T. Sun, Prediction of Impact Induced Penetration and Delamination in Thick Composite Laminates, Int. J. Impact Eng, 1997, 19(1), p 31–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The initial part of this work was supported by R & D Establishment (Engineers), DRDO, Pune.

Funding

This research received no specific Grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aerospace Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Santosh Kumar & N. K. Naik

  2. R & D Establishment (Engineers), DRDO, Pune, 411015, India

    Santosh Kumar, Kiran Akella & Makarand Joshi

  3. Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Asim Tewari

Authors
  1. Santosh Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kiran Akella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Makarand Joshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Asim Tewari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. K. Naik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Santosh Kumar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, S., Akella, K., Joshi, M. et al. Performance of Ceramic-Composite Armors under Ballistic Impact Loading. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 29, 5625–5637 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-020-05041-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-020-05041-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation