Investigation of ballistic impact of the full metal jacket bullet against UHMWPE composite laminate

This study aims to advance the understanding of ballistic impact mechanics by integrating computational modelling and experimental validation. Utilizing LS-DYNA simulations and high-speed impact testing, we investigate the structural response of multilayered ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sheets composite systems under ballistic loading. The full-metal jacket 7,62 × 51 mm riffle bullet is simulated by using Johnson-Cook material model. The model is able to simulate the behaviour of real ballistic interactions in composites up to certain number of sheets until full hold-up of the bullet, including highly non-linear behaviour, failure and defragmentation of the bullet as well as of the UHMWPE sheets. The provided results include the visual representation and time laws of the ballistic interaction process as well as dependencies explaining the influence of the composite constructional properties on its ballistic strength. An important observation made in this study was that the ballistic strength severely depends on the possibility of pulling farther zones of the sheets towards the center of the impact. In the model, this property is represented by selecting a scaling divider, by which the values of equivalent stiffness applied at the edges of the composite model is described relatively to the reference value. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of next-generation protective materials.