Penetration resistance and protection mechanism of lightweight ceramic composite armor

Abstract A kind of C/C-SiC ceramic/metal matrix composite foam composite armor was designed to meet the lightweight requirements of protective armor. Based on numerical simulations of impact dynamics, the anti-penetration process and anti-penetration performance of the ceramic composite armor was verified through live-fire shooting. The results indicate that, through numerical simulations and live-fire shooting experiments, it has been confirmed that the designed ceramic composite armor meets the protection requirements of the MIL-A-46103E III Class 2A bulletproof standard. The results of the projectile impacts are basically consistent with the numerical simulation results, which validaties that the established anti-penetration performance model can effectively analyze and predict the anti-penetration capabilities and damage processes of the ceramic composite armor. The propagation characteristics and shear mechanisms of stress waves in the adhesive layer are revealed, and it is found that the stress wave diminishes gradually in the radial direction from the impact point, however, in the longitudinal direction, the stress wave value near the bulletproof backplate interface are greater than those near the bulletproof panel interface due to the effect of reflected compression waves, and as the thickness of the adhesive layer increases, its shear resistance progressively improves and the degree of stress wave attenuation also increases accordingly.