Investigation of the mechanical and ballistic properties of hybrid carbon/ aramid woven laminates

High-performance ballistic fibers, such as aramid fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), are commonly used in anti-ballistic structures due to their low density, high tensile strength and high specific modulus. However, their low modulus in the thickness direction and insufficient shear strength limits their application in certain ballistic structure. In contrast, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (CFRP) have the characteristics of high modulus in the thickness direction and high shear resistance. However, carbon fibers are rarely used and applied for protection purposes. A hybridization with aramid fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (AFRP) and CFRP has the potential to improve the stiffness and the ballistic property of the typical ballistic fiber composites. The hybrid effects on the flexural property and ballistic performance of the hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates were investigated. Through conducting mechanical property tests and ballistic tests, two sets of reliable simulation parameters for AFRP and CFRP were established using LS-DYNA software, respectively. The experimental results suggested that by increasing the content of CFRP that the flexural properties of hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates were enhanced. The ballistic tests’ results and the simulation illustrated that the specific energy absorption by the perforation method of CFRP achieved 77.7% of AFRP. When CFRP was on the striking face, the shear resistance of the laminates and the resistance force to the projectiles was promoted at the initial penetration stage. The proportion of fiber tensile failures in the AFRP layers was also enhanced with the addition of CFRP during the penetration process. These improvements resulted in the ballistic performance of hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates was better than AFRP when the CFRP content was 20 wt% and 30 wt%.     

Real-time prediction of projectile penetration to laminates by training machine learning models withfinite element solver as the trainer

Studies on ballistic penetration to laminates is complicated, but important for design effective protection of structures. Experimental means of study is expensive and can often be dangerous. Numerical simu-lation has been an excellent supplement, but the computation is time-consuming. Main aim of this thesis was to develop and test an effective tool for real-time prediction of projectile penetrations to laminates by training a neural network and a decision tree regression model. A large number of finite element models were developed;the residual velocities of projectiles fromfinite element simulations were used as the target data and processed to produce sufficient number of training samples. Study focused on steel 4340tpolyurea laminates with various configurations. Four different 3D shapes of the projectiles were modeled and used in the training. The trained neural network and decision tree model was tested using independently generated test samples using finite element models. The predicted projectile velocity values using the trained machine learning models are then compared with thefinite element simulation to verify the effectiveness of the models. Additionally, both models were trained using a published experimental data of projectile impacts to predict residual velocity of projectiles for the unseen samples. Performance of both the models was evaluated and compared. Models trained with Finite element simulation data samples were found capable to give more accurate predication, compared to the models trained with experimental data, becausefinite element modeling can generate much larger training set, and thus finite element solvers can serve as an excellent teacher. This study also showed that neural network model performs better with small experimental dataset compared to decision tree regression model.     

A three-stage model for the perforation of finite metallic plates by long rods at high velocities

A three-stage theoretical model is presented herein to predict the perforation of a thick metallic plate struck normally by a long rod at high velocities. The model is suggested on the basis of the assumption that the perforation of a thick metallic plate by a long rod can be divided into three stages: (1) initial penetration; (2) plug formation and (3) plug slipping and separation. Various analytical equations are derived which can be employed to predict the ballistic limit, residual velocity and residual length of the long rod. It is demonstrated that the present model predictions are in good agreement with available experimental results for the perforation of finite steel targets struck normally by steel as well as tungsten alloy long rods at high velocities. It is also demonstrated that the dynamic maximum shear stress of a plate material has strong effect on plug formation and plug thickness which, in turn, exerts considerable influence on the residual velocities and lengths of a long rod at impact velocities just above the ballistic limit.     

穿甲子弹垂直侵彻防弹钢试验与理论模型

试验研究了穿甲子弹垂直侵彻高强防弹钢的机理,提出了一个分析靶板极限速度和弹体剩余速度的理论模型,该模型综合考虑了材料的应变率与热软化效应,结果表明,理论值与试验值吻合很好.分析了失效准则的影响,研究了剪切带温度和靶板耗能随入射速度的变化规律.     

破片对军用方舱的冲击毁伤效应研究

基于薄板的极限穿透速度及破片穿透薄板的余速理论,就破片对军用方舱的冲击毁伤效应进行深入分析．通过理论计算,得到圆柱形破片穿透方舱后的剩余速度．在AUTODYN中构建模型,对圆柱形破片穿透方舱的过程进行数值模拟,其结果表明,数值模拟结果与理论计算的误差较小,证明该模型的可靠性．     

始终处于大气层内飞行的TBM被动段弹道预测

对大气层内飞行的TBM弹道进行预测时,需要根据不同的应用要求,在求解精度允许范围内用近似方法对六自由度运动进行简化,获得简便实用的弹道预测方法。在假设获得TBM被动段弹道初始位置和速度参数的基础上,首先构建简便实用的处于大气层内飞行的TBM被动段抛物线弹道模型;然后将雷达测得的TBM被动段弹道初始位置和速度参数作为初始条件,对弹道方程采用精度较高的龙格-库塔法进行求解,相应得出被动段弹道上各点及落点的位置和速度参数,进一步确定出落点位置的地理位置经纬度。在某地空攻防对抗仿真项目中应用表明,弹道模型及其求解方法可应用于实战或较为逼真的仿真系统中。     

基于导弹空间飞行的空间碎片筛选方法研究

随着空间活动的日益频繁,空间碎片的数量也与日俱增,给远程弹道导弹的空间飞行安全带来巨大威胁。针对空间碎片数目繁多,为了快速进行导弹空间飞行安全预警和发射窗口选择,根据远程弹道导弹空间飞行特点,提出了适用于导弹与空间碎片碰撞预警的空间碎片筛选方法,并通过仿真计算证明了该筛选方法的科学性和合理性,该筛选方法可提高导弹空间飞行安全预警效率并缩短预警时间。     

Ballistic response of armour plates using Generative Adversarial Networks

It is important to understand how ballistic materials respond to impact from projectiles such that informed decisions can be made in the design process of protective armour systems. Ballistic testing is a standards-based process where materials are tested to determine whether they meet protection, safety and performance criteria. For the V₅₀ ballistic test, projectiles are fired at different velocities to determine a key design parameter known as the ballistic limit velocity (BLV), the velocity above which projectiles perforate the target. These tests, however, are destructive by nature and as such there can be considerable associated costs, especially when studying complex armour materials and systems. This study proposes a unique solution to the problem using a recent class of machine learning system known as the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). The GAN can be used to generate new ballistic samples as opposed to performing additional destructive experiments. A GAN network architecture is tested and trained on three different ballistic data sets, and their performance is compared. The trained networks were able to successfully produce ballistic curves with an overall RMSE of between 10 and 20 % and predicted the V₅₀ BLV in each case with an error of less than 5 %. The results demonstrate that it is possible to train generative networks on a limited number of ballistic samples and use the trained network to generate many new samples representative of the data that it was trained on. The paper spotlights the benefits that generative networks can bring to ballistic applications and provides an alternative to expensive testing during the early stages of the design process.     

球头弹低速斜侵彻下薄板穿甲破坏机理研究

为探讨球头弹低速斜侵彻下靶板的破坏机理,通过系列弹道试验,对比分析了不同初始速度下弹体的变形,靶板的破坏模式,以及靶板的破口大小及形状；同时采用ANSYS/LS-DYNA对弹靶作用过程进行了数值模拟。结果表明：低速斜侵彻下靶板响应非完全对称,根据受力特征可将靶板划分为四个不同区域,即接触区,弯曲区,拉伸区和对称区；薄板的穿甲破坏可分为四个不同的阶段,即隆起变形,碟形变形,弯曲变形,弹体贯穿阶段；不同初始速度下靶板出现四种典型的穿甲破坏模式,随着初始速度的增加依次为隆起—碟形变形,隆起—碟形变形—拉弯撕裂破坏,隆起—碟形变形—拉弯剪切破坏,隆起—拉弯剪切破坏。斜侵彻下靶板破口形状为椭圆形,随着初始速度的增加,破口长径不断减小,形状由椭圆形向卵形过渡。     

Numerical simulation study on penetration performance of depleted Uranium (DU) alloy fragments

Due to its high strength, high density, high hardness and good penetration capabilities, Depleted ura-nium alloys have already shined in armor-piercing projectiles. There should also be a lot of room for improvement in the application of fragment killing elements. Therefore, regarding the performance of the depleted uranium alloy to penetrate the target plate, further investigation is needed to analyze its advantages and disadvantages compared to tungsten alloy. To study the difference in penetration per-formance between depleted uranium alloy and tungsten alloy fragments,firstly, a theoretical analysis of the adiabatic shear sensitivity of DU and tungsten alloys was given from the perspective of material constitutive model. Then, taking the cylindrical fragment penetration target as the research object, the penetration process and velocity characteristics of the steel target plates penetrated by DU alloy frag-ment and tungsten alloy fragment were compared and analyzed, by using finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA and Lagrange algorithm. Lastly, the influence of different postures when impacting target and different fragment shapes on the penetration results is carried out in the research. The results show that in the penetration process of the DU and tungsten alloy fragments, the self-sharpening properties of the DU alloy can make the fragment head sharper and the penetrating ability enhance. Under the same conditions, the penetration capability of cylindrical fragment impacting target in vertical posture is better than that in horizontal posture, and the penetration capability of the spherical fragment is slightly better than that of cylindrical fragment.     

UHMWPE纤维混凝土基本力学性能研究

研究了一种由超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）纤维增强的新型纤维混凝土基本力学性能。针对C70等级高强混凝土,设计了四种体积掺量纤维混凝土,通过立方体抗压、劈裂抗拉和四点弯曲抗折试验,分析了纤维掺量对混凝土力学性能的影响。结果表明：UHMWPE纤维对混凝土的抗压强度增强作用不明显,但较大提高了混凝土的抗拉强度和抗折强度,且对混凝土有很好的阻裂、增韧效果。在纤维体积掺量为0.3%~0.5%时,劈裂抗拉强度提高25%以上;掺量0.5%时,弯曲抗折强度提高率超过23%。     

电磁炮外弹道仿真分析

电磁炮初速高、射程远,其外弹道与常规火炮不同。为获得电磁炮的外弹道数据,开展了仿真研究。采用龙格-库塔法解算弹道方程组,计算不同仿真条件下炮口动能32MJ和64MJ电磁炮的外弹道数据,分析最大射程角和最大射高,研究弹形系数、弹丸初速和主要误差对电磁炮外弹道特性的影响。结果表明,电磁炮弹丸初速提高,弹道系数减小,射程增加。仿真结果可为电磁炮的指标选择提供技术参考。     

复合材料层合板疲劳寿命形状参数与门槛值分析方法

复合材料性能具有较大的分散性,在表征复合材料疲劳寿命时,必须考虑分散性的影响。以M21C复合材料开孔层合板为研究对象,采用Sendeckyj等效静强度模型和随机变量函数的概率分布方法推导了复合材料层合板疲劳寿命形状参数和剩余强度形状参数的关系,通过试验和统计的方法获得了M21C复合材料开孔层合板的疲劳寿命形状参数和疲劳门槛值,对载荷放大系数以及低载截除水平的确定提供了数据支持。     

Damage visualization and deformation measurement in glass laminates during projectile penetration

Transparent armor consists of glass-polymer laminates in most cases. The formation and propagation of damage in the different glass layers has a strong influence on the ballistic resistance of such laminates. In order to clarify the course of events during projectile penetration, an experimental technique was developed, which allows visualizing the onset and propagation of damage in each single layer of the laminate. A telecentric objective lens was used together with a microsecond video camera that allows recording 100 frames at a maximum rate of 1 MHz in a backlit photography set-up. With this technique, the damage evolution could be visualized in glass laminates consisting of four glass layers with lateral dimensions 500 mm × 500 mm. Damage evolution was recorded during penetration of 7.62 mm AP projectiles with tungsten carbide core and a total mass of 11.1 g in the impact velocity range from 800 to 880 m/s. In order to measure the deformation of single glass plates within the laminates, a piece of reflecting tape was attached to the corresponding glass plate, and photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) was applied. With the photonic Doppler velocimeter, an infrared laser is used to illuminate an object to be measured and the Doppler-shifted light is superimposed to a reference light beam at the detector. The simultaneous visualization and PDV measurement of the glass deformation allow determining the deformation at the time of the onset of fracture. The analysis of the experimental data was supported by numerical simulations, using the AUTODYN commercial hydro-code.     

Determination of penetration depth at high velocity impact using finite element method and artificial neural network tools

Determination of ballistic performance of an armor solution is a complicated task and evolved significantly with the application of finite element methods(FEM) in this research field.The traditional armor design studies performed with FEM requires sophisticated procedures and intensive computational effort,therefore simpler and accurate numerical approaches are always worthwhile to decrease armor development time.This study aims to apply a hybrid method using FEM simulation and artificial neural network(ANN) analysis to approximate ballistic limit thickness for armor steels.To achieve this objective,a predictive model based on the artificial neural networks is developed to determine ballistic resistance of high hardness armor steels against 7.62 mm armor piercing ammunition.In this methodology,the FEM simulations are used to create training cases for Multilayer Perceptron(MLP) three layer networks.In order to validate FE simulation methodology,ballistic shot tests on 20 mm thickness target were performed according to standard Stanag 4569.Afterwards,the successfully trained ANN(s) is used to predict the ballistic limit thickness of 500 HB high hardness steel armor.Results show that even with limited number of data,FEM-ANN approach can be used to predict ballistic penetration depth with adequate accuracy.     

Interface defeat studies of long-rod projectile impacting on ceramic targets

The interface defeat phenomenon always occurs when a long-rod projectile impacting on the ceramic target with certain velocity, i.e., the projectile is forced to flow radially on the surface of ceramic plates for a period of time without significant penetration. Interface defeat has a direct effect upon the ballistic performance of the armor piercing projectile, which is studied numerically and theoretically at present. Firstly, by modeling the projectiles and ceramic targets with the SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) particles and Lagrange finite elements, the systematic numerical simulations on interface defeat are performed with the commercial finite element program AUTODYN. Three different responses, i.e., complete interface defeat, dwell and direct penetration, are reproduced in different types of ceramic targets (bare, buffered, radially confined and oblique). Furthermore, by adopting the validated numerical algorithms, constitutive models and the corresponding material parameters, the influences of projectile (material, diameter, nose shape), constitutive models of ceramic (JH-1 and JH-2 models), buffer and cover plate (thickness, constraints, material), as well as the prestress acted on the target (radial and hydrostatic) on the interface defeat (transition velocity and dwell time) are systematically investigated. Finally, based on the energy conservation approach and taking the strain rate effect of ceramic material into account, a modified model for predicting the upper limit of transition velocity is proposed and validated. The present work and derived conclusions can provide helpful reference for the design and optimization of both the long-rod projectile and ceramic armor.     

高速破片撞击充液容器形成液压水锤的试验研究

为研究高速破片撞击充液容器形成的液压水锤效应，设计一套试验装置和测试方法，试验破片撞击充液容器产生空腔的变化过程、液体中不同位置处的压力变化以及前后面板的变形情况。试验发现：破片撞击容器后面板时会出现一圈空化气泡，气泡在后面板内表面从撞击点位置迅速沿径向扩展；液压水锤初始冲击阶段，距离撞击点较近区域在初始冲击波压力脉冲过后会出现一个较大负压，而距离撞击点较远区域不受负压影响；破片撞击速度对容器前面板最大变形影响较小，变形范围随着撞击速度的增大沿撞击点向四周扩展。后面板的最大变形及变形范围都随着破片撞击速度的增大而变大。     

导弹破片与作战飞机的交汇分析

在简化假设的前提下,对导弹破片与作战飞机的交汇进行分析,首次在三维坐标系中建立导弹破片与飞机的交汇模型,推导破片相对于飞机的三维弹道轨迹方程,并确定在导弹打击下飞机的受损区域.导弹破片与飞机的交汇模型的建立和破片弹道轨迹方程的获得,为在导弹打击下的飞机损伤概率计算奠定基础.     

An investigation on anti-impact and penetration performance of basalt fiber composites with different weave and lay-up modes

The woven basalt fiber composites (WBFC) and the unidirectional [0°/90°/45°/-45°]_s basalt fiber composites (UBFC) were prepared by hot-pressing. Three-point bending test, low velocity impact test, and ballistic test were performed to the prepared composites. After the tests, the specimens were recovered and analyzed for micromorphology. Three-point bending tests show that both the bending strength and stiffness of the WBFC surpass those of the UBFC. Low velocity impact test results show that the low velocity impact resistance to hemispherical impactor of the UBFC is higher than that of the WBFC, but the low velocity impact resistance to sharp impactor of the UBFC is lower than that of the WBFC. For the ballistic test, it can be found that the ballistic property of the UBFC is higher than that of the WBFC. After the tests, microscopic analysis of the specimens was applied, and their failure mechanism was discussed. The main failure modes of the UBFC are delamination and fibers breakage under the above loading conditions while the main failure mode of the WBFC is fibers breakage. Although delamination damage can be found in the WBFC under the above loading conditions, the degree of delamination is far less than that of the UBFC.     

弹道滤波算法研究

为导引我方发射的制导炮弹等目标,需要在炮瞄雷达跟踪炮弹的基础上准确估计炮弹目标的位置、速度等状态信息。鉴于直接对测量的弹道轨迹建立常规运动模型滤波效果较差,提出了两种方法。一种基于弹道偏差滤波的方法,另一种是基于弹道方程滤波方法。仿真计算比较结果表明文中建立的弹道滤波算法对弹道类目标的滤波精度和反应时间上有大幅度提高。