Home // SIMUL 2017, The Ninth International Conference on Advances in System Simulation // View article
Authors:
Arash Ramezani
Hendrik Rothe
Keywords: solver technologies; simulation models; hydrocodes; fiber-reinforced plastics; optimization; armor systems; ballistic trials
Abstract:
In the security sector, the partly insufficient safety of people and equipment due to failure of industrial components is an ongoing problem that cause great concern. Since computers and software have spread into all fields of industry, extensive efforts are currently made in order to improve the safety by applying certain numerical solutions. A fiber-reinforced composite is a promising material for ballistic protection due to its high strength, stiffness and low density. The use of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) composite as part of the primary armour system in vehicles has the potential to provide significant weight savings or improved protection levels over traditional metallic materials. Although already used in vehicle armours, both as spall liners and within complex multi-element/multi-material packages, there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms driving ballistic performance. Existing analysis tools do not allow for a good approximation of performance, while existing numerical models are either incapable of accurately capturing the response of thick UHMW-PE composite to ballistic impact or are unsuited to model thick targets. In response, this paper aims to identify the key penetration and failure mechanisms of thick UHMW-PE composite under ballistic impact and develop analytical and numerical models that capture these mechanisms and allow accurate prediction of ballistic performance to optimize modern armor structures. An analysis methodology is proposed to model the behaviour of thick UHMW-PE composite panels under ballistic impact using inhomogeneities on the macroscale. A sub-laminate approach for discretisation of the target is proposed to overcome the problems of premature through-thickness failure in the material model. The methodology was extensively validated against existing experimental ballistic impact data and results for UHMW-PE targets. Finally, a numerical modelling methodology was developed for the analysis of thick UHMW-PE composite under ballistic impact.
Pages: 41 to 50
Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2017
Publication date: October 8, 2017
Published in: conference
ISSN: 2308-4537
ISBN: 978-1-61208-594-4
Location: Athens, Greece
Dates: from October 8, 2017 to October 12, 2017