Development and validation of a numerical model for the simulation of high velocity impacts on advanced composite armor systems

The anti-ballistic properties of a new advanced composite armor system have been investigated with the aim to minimize the armor system total weight per unit area. The innovative protection, made of a silicon carbide ceramic outer layer and an inner composite back-packing layer formed by ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, namely Dyneema Hard Ballistic 26, was realized and then tested performing dedicated ballistic impact tests. In order to investigate its permanent deformation, ceramic cracking, dimension of the rupture, and extension of the impact damage, nondestructive and destructive tests were conducted on the tested panels. The experimental results were used to develop and validate a transient nonlinear dynamic simulation model of the highvelocity impact of a 7.62 AP bullet on the tested armor system. After an accurate setting of the parameters involved in the description of the material constitutive models and of the involved physical phenomena, a complex numerical model was developed in theANSYS-Autodyn environment using both mesh and meshless approaches at the same time. The comparison reveals a good agreement between experimental and computational results in terms of ballistic properties, deformations, fragmentation, and fracture of the ballistic armor system. Hence, a new numerical model for the design and the optimization of the ballistic efficiency of composite armor systems was developed and can be now used in current practice.