BALLISTIC IMPACT ANALYSIS OF TITANIUM-ALUMINIUM LAMINATES USING FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING IN ABAQUS

The pursuit of lightweight, high-performance armor systems has intensified interest in hybrid metallic laminates for ballistic protection. This study evaluates the ballistic response of monolithic and laminated configurations of Aluminium 7075-T651 and Titanium Ti-6Al-4V when subjected to impact from a 7.62 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) projectile using finite element analysis in Abaqus/CAE. Three primary configurations were simulated: monolithic plates (15 mm), triple-layered titanium laminates (3 × 5 mm), and titanium-aluminium hybrids with varied stacking sequences. A rigid ogival-nosed projectile modeled from 4340 steel was launched at velocities ranging from 100 to 900 m/s. Dynamic explicit analysis was employed, and parameters such as Von Mises stress, reaction force, and deformation profiles were recorded. Adaptive meshing improved solution accuracy around impact zones. Results show that titanium outperformed aluminium in monolithic form, but both failed at higher velocities. Laminated titanium provided improved energy absorption due to interlayer friction and deformation control. The optimal configuration, titanium as the strike face and aluminium as the backing, achieved full projectile arrest at 830 m/s when total thickness reached 35 mm. Reversing the sequence led to early failure. The study demonstrates that strategically layered titanium-aluminium laminates offer enhanced ballistic performance over monolithic plates. The novelty lies in the detailed simulation-driven comparison of stacking sequences and thicknesses, providing a cost-effective pre-validation framework for ballistic armor design. These findings support the development of lightweight armor for military, vehicular, and aerospace applications