On the ballistic resistance of double-layered steel plates: An experimental and numerical investigation

Abstract

Civil and military ballistic protection systems often consist of thin, high-strength steel plates. Such plates may either be monolithic or layered with or without spacing. The idea of using layered plates instead of a monolithic one in order to increase the ballistic perforation resistance is not new, and the effect of using targets made up of several thinner plates has been investigated in the literature for a long time. However, results by various authors are contradicting and detailed experimental and numerical work is still required.In the present study, the ballistic perforation resistance of double-layered steel plates impacted by blunt and ogival projectiles was investigated both experimentally and numerically. In the tests, 12 mm thick (monolithic or layered) targets of Weldox 700 E were impacted using a gas-gun at sub-ordnance velocity, and the ballistic limit velocity of the different target combinations was obtained. In general, good agreement was obtained between the numerical simulations and the experimental results. It was found that in the case of blunt projectiles a large gain in the ballistic limit is offered by double-layered systems. These advantages seem to disappear when ogival projectiles are used. However, the main conclusion from both the experimental and numerical studies is that the overall protection level, i.e. the minimum ballistic limit velocity obtained independently of projectile nose shape, seems to increase significantly by double-layering the target.

Experimental investigations on the ballistic impact performances of cold rolled sheet metals

“…The use of thicker backing plate and the appropriate standoff distance of the two plates were further shown to improve the performance of the layered targets [19]. The reduction of the thickness of the layers was also shown to reduce the ballistic limit of layered targets [20]. Furthermore, no effect of the anisotropy of the cold rolled sheet plates on the failure modes and the ballistic limits of the tested plates are detected.…”

Effect of Soft-hard Plate and Rubber Sandwich Against on 5.56 mm Deformable Projectile

“…The minimum ballistic limit velocity obtained by independent projectile nose shape seemed to increase significantly by double-layering the target [6]. Yunfei et al [7] had also been conducting experiments of ballistic performance with blunt and ogival-nosed projectiles of double-layered steel plates of different materials.…”

Numerical investigation on ballistic resistance of aluminium multi-layered panels impacted by improvised projectiles

“…Also, the ogive-nosed projectile was found to be the most efficient for multi-layered panel. Dey et al [12] investigated perforation resistance of double-layered steel plates impacted by blunt and ogival projectiles. They found that double layering of the target increased the ballistic limit velocity for spaced plates by nearly 40% compared to a monolithic target of equal thickness.…”