Crack Detection in Armor Plates Using Ultrasonic Techniques

Abstract

A method of using piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers to characterize the vibrational modes of ceramic Vehicle Body Armor Support System (VBASS) plates for the purpose of crack detection is presented. The amplitudes of the vibrational modes undamaged plates are compared to the vibrational mode amplitudes of damaged plates and are shown to be clearly different. VBASS plates for testing are damaged either by a blunt impact to the ceramic plate surface or cracked using a machine-shop press. Data from these tests will be used to design a prototype hand-held device for the nondestructive testing (NDT) of the VBASS plate structural integrity. VBASS plates are used as proof-of-principle samples in the absence of vest body armor samples.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA493437

Entities

People

  • Allen H. Meitzler
  • Euijung Sohn
  • Gregory Smith
  • Ivan Wong
  • Mary Bienkowski
  • Michelle Charbeneau
  • Thomas J. Meitzler

Organizations

  • Tank-automotive and Armaments Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Armor Plate
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Detection
  • Frequency
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Nondestructive Testing
  • Piezoelectric Transducers
  • Prototypes
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Signal Generators
  • Silicon Carbide
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Equipment
  • Transducers
  • Vibration

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Structural Dynamics.