Vulnerability/Lethality Modeling of Armored Combat Vehicles - Status and Recommendations
Abstract
The Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory has a hierarchy of vulnerability/lethality models including a compartment model, point-burst model, and stochastic point-burst model. The compartment model assesses the vulnerability of armored fighting vehicles by empirically-based damage correlation curves to evaluate probabilities of kill (P sub ks) and losses of function (LoFs). The point-burst model considers a burst of behind-armor debris whenever perforation by the main penetrator occurs. Vehicle damage from the main penetrator and behind-armor debris is evaluated and combined using subjective damage-assessment lists to assess P sub ks and LoFs. The stochastic point-burst generates distributions of P sub ks and LoFs to estimate the probability of occurrence of any particular empirical test result. Recent concepts, such as vulnerability spaces; new methodologies, such as degraded states; and live-fire testing have significant implications for future modeling efforts. For instance, the historically nebulous distinction between P sub k and LoF is being addressed. Introductory studies and results using live- fire data suggest promising avenues to develop a more elementary low-level model. This report compares and contrasts the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of the existing vulnerability/lethality models. Alternative modeling approaches are identified; and the impact of ongoing research is assessed. Long-term recommendations for vulnerability modeling are specified.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA261691
Entities
People
- Jill H. Smith
- Wendy A. Winner
- William E. Baker
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory