Damage Detection in Composite Plate Armor Using Ultrasonic Techniques

Abstract

A method for crack and damage detection in ceramic composite plate armors is presented. The method uses embedded piezoelectric Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) transducers to characterize the vibrational modes of composite armor plates. The amplitudes of the vibrational modes of damaged and undamaged plates are shown to be distinct. The differences in the vibration modes can be exploited to detect cracks and damage. Composite armor plates for testing are damaged by impact with a certain caliber round. Data from these tests can be used to design a vehicle based system for the nondestructive testing (NDT) and health monitoring of the armor plate structural integrity.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 17, 2009
Accession Number
ADA505638

Entities

People

  • Darryl Bryk
  • Ivan Wong
  • Sam Ebenstein
  • Thomas J. Meitzler
  • Thomas Reynolds

Organizations

  • Tank-automotive and Armaments Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Algorithms
  • Armor Plate
  • Ceramic Matrix Composites
  • Composite Armor
  • Composite Materials
  • Damage Detection
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Engineering
  • Frequency
  • Materials
  • Monitoring
  • Physical Properties
  • Structural Integrity
  • Transducers
  • Vibration

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.