Effects of Ceramic Type on Fragmentation Behaviour during Ballistic Impact

Abstract

This work reports experiments in which different grades and types of ceramic are impacted by tungsten alloy projectiles, and the resulting debris is analysed to assess the influence of ceramic properties on the degree of fragmentation and the distribution of cracking in the ceramic. The experiments utilize two grades of titanium diboride, four grades of alumina, as well as toughened zirconia tiles and glass. Toughness is seen to have a large influence on tile fragmentation with the very tough zirconia tiles showing significantly less breakup, and the brittle glass showing excessive fragmentation. Whilst a correlation is established between toughness and degree of fragmentation, for small differences in toughness the shot to shot variation in fragmentation can obscure that relationship. For two cases, glass and AD85 alumina, the projectile did not deform and this allowed calculations of mean pressure resisting penetration.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA268655

Entities

People

  • Barry J. Baxter
  • Raymond L. Woodward
  • Robert G. O'donnell
  • William A. Gooch Jr.
  • William J. Perciballi

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alloys
  • Aluminum
  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Ceramic Matrix Composites
  • Compressive Strength
  • Hardness
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Materials
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Resistance
  • Stress Waves
  • Stresses
  • Toughness
  • Tungsten Alloys
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.