Fractographic Analysis of Long Rod Penetrator-Armor Ceramic Interactions

Abstract

The stages of armor ceramic fracture and defeat mechanisms of the projectile have been well documented for small caliber rounds (.30 and .50 caliber ball and armor piercing). The recent ability to manufacture ceramic tiles capable of protecting vehicles against large caliber munitions has shifted research to incorporating these materials into ground systems. Though many studies are evaluating the relationship of processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties with ballistic performance, few programs have focused on the actual defeat mechanisms involved for these heavy threats. A program was initiated to evaluate the fracture of a ceramic target when impacted by a tungsten long-rod penetrator (LRP). Following a conventional V50 test of a silicon carbide whisker-reinforced aluminum oxide, one target was serial sectioned from the rear. Very fine comminuted ceramic was painstakingly removed from the exit point of the LRP. Tungsten and steel particles were included in the ceramic powder. Keywords: Armor; Ceramic armor; Long rod penetrators; Ballistic performance; Fracture(mechanics); Scanning electron microscopy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA215172

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Slavin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Engineering
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Grain Size
  • Information Processing
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Microscopy
  • Military Research
  • Projectiles
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Silicon Carbide

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • ballistics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics