A platform for initial testing of multiple camouflage patterns

The human visual system is still an important factor in military warfare; military personnel receive training on effective search strategies, and camouflage that can effectively conceal objects and personnel is a key component of a successful integrated survivability strategy. Previous methods of camouflage assessment have, amongst others, used psychophysics to generate distinctiveness metrics. However, the population from which the human observers are drawn is often not well defined, or necessarily appropriate. In this experiment we designed a new platform for testing multiple patterns based on a camouflaged object detection task, and investigate whether trained military observers perform better than civilians. We use a two-alternative forced choice paradigm, with participants searching images of woodland for a replica military helmet displaying Olive Green, Multi Terrain Pattern, US Marine Pattern or, as a conspicuous control, UN Peacekeeper Blue. Our data show that there is no difference in detection performance between the two observer groups but that there are clear differences in the effectiveness of the different helmet colour patterns in a temperate woodland environment. We conclude that when tasks involve very short stimulus presentation times, task-specific training has little effect on the success of target detection and thus this paradigm is particularly suitable for robust estimates of camouflage efficacy.     

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.     

Damage mechanics and energy absorption capabilities of naturalfiber reinforced elastomeric based bio composite for sacrificial structural applications

The present study deals with the experimental, finite element (FE) and analytical assessment of low ballistic impact response of proposedflexible'green' composite make use of naturally available jute and rubber as the constituents of the composite with stacking sequences namely jute/rubber/jute (JRJ), jute/rubber/rubber/jute (JRRJ) and jute/rubber/jute/rubber/jute (JRJRJ). Ballistic impact tests were carried out by firing a conical projectile using a gas gun apparatus at lower range of ballistic impact regime. The ballistic impact response of the proposed flexible composites are assesses based on energy absorption and damage mechanism. Results revealed that inclusion of natural rubber aids in better energy ab-sorption and mitigating the failure of the proposed composite. Among the three different stacking se-quences of flexible composites considered, JRJRJ provides better ballistic performance compared to its counterparts. The damage study reveals that the main mechanism of failure involved in flexible com-posites is matrix tearing as opposed to matrix cracking in stiff composites indicating that the proposedflexible composites are free from catastrophic failure. Results obtained from experimental, FE and analytical approach pertaining to energy absorption and damage mechanism agree well with each other. The proposed flexible composites due to their exhibited energy absorption capabilities and damage mechanism are best suited as claddings for structural application subjected to impact with an aim of protecting the main structural component from being failed catastrophically.     

Mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of pristine andfunctionalized carbon nanotube reinforced metallic glass composites:A molecular dynamics approach

This work uses the molecular dynamics approach to study the effects of functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical properties of Cu64Zr36 metallic glass (MG). Three types of functional groups, carboxylic, vinyl and ester were used. The effect of CNT volume fraction (Vf) and the number of functional groups attached to CNT, on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of CNT-MG composites was analysed using Biovia Materials Studio. At lower values of Vf (from 0 to 5％), the per-centage increase in Young's modulus was approximately 66％. As the value of Vf was increased further (from 5 to 12％), the rate of increase in Young's modulus was reduced to 16％. The thermal conductivity was found to increase from 1.52 W/mK at Vf=0％to 5.88 W/mK at Vf=12％, thus giving an increase of approximately 286％. Functionalization of SWCNT reduced the thermal conductivity of the SWCNT-MG composites.     

Decision support model for effects estimation and proportionality assessment for targeting in cyber operations

Cyber operations are relatively a new phenomenon of the last two decades.During that period,they have increased in number,complexity,and agility,while their design and development have been processes well kept under secrecy.As a consequence,limited data(sets)regarding these incidents are available.Although various academic and practitioner public communities addressed some of the key points and dilemmas that surround cyber operations(such as attack,target identification and selection,and collateral damage),still methodologies and models are needed in order to plan,execute,and assess them in a responsibly and legally compliant way.Based on these facts,it is the aim of this article to propose a model that i))estimates and classifies the effects of cyber operations,and ii)assesses proportionality in order to support targeting decisions in cyber operations.In order to do that,a multi-layered fuzzy model was designed and implemented by analysing real and virtual realistic cyber operations combined with interviews and focus groups with technical-military experts.The proposed model was evaluated on two cyber operations use cases in a focus group with four technical-military experts.Both the design and the results of the evaluation are revealed in this article.     

An interface shear damage model of chromium coating/steel substrate under thermal erosion load

The Cr-plated coating inside a gun barrel can effectively improve the barrel's erosion resistance and thus increase the service life.However,due to the cyclic thermal load caused by high-temperature gun-powder,micro-element damage tends to occur within the Cr coating/steel substrate interface,leading to a gradual deterioration in macro-mechanical properties for the material in the related region.In order to mimic this cyclic thermal load and,thereby,study the thermal erosion behavior of the Cr coating on the barrel's inner wall,a laser emitter is utilized in the current study.With the help of in-situ tensile test and finite element simulation results,a shear stress distribution law of the Cr coating/steel substrate and a change law of the interface ultimate shear strength are identified.Studies have shown that the Cr coating/steel substrate interface's ultimate shear strength has a significant weakening effect due to increasing temperature.In this study,the interfacial ultimate shear strength decreases from 2.57 GPa(no erosion)to 1.02 GPa(laser power is 160 W).The data from this experiment is employed to establish a Cr coating/steel substrate interface shear damage model.And this model is used to predict the flaking process of Cr coating by finite element method.The simulation results show that the increase of coating crack spacing and coating thickness will increase the service life of gun barrel.     

Prediction of three-dimensional elastic behavior of filament-wound composites based on the bridging model

This work provides a method to predict the three-dimensional equivalent elastic properties of the filament-wound composites based on the multi-scale homogenization principle.In the meso-scale,a representative volume element(RVE)is defined and the bridging model is adopted to establish a theoretical predictive model for its three-dimensional equivalent elastic constants.The results obtained through this method for the previous experimental model are compared with the ones gained respec-tively by experiments and classical laminate theory to verify the reliability of this model.In addition,the effects of some winding parameters,such as winding angle,on the equivalent elastic behavior of the filament-wound composites are analyzed.The rules gained can provide a theoretical reference for the optimum design of filament-wound composites.     

Study of high-speed-impact-induced conoidal fracture of Ti alloy layer in composite armor plate composed of Ti-and Al-alloy layers

In order to understand the mechanism of conoidal fracture damage caused by a high-speed fragment-simulating projectile in titanium alloy layer of a composite armor plate composed of titanium- and aluminum-alloy layers, the ballistic interaction process was successfully simulated based on the Tuler-Butcher and GISSMO coupling failure model. The simulated conoidal fracture morphology was in good agreement with the three-dimensional industrial-computed-tomography image. Further, three main damage zones (zones I, II, and III) were identified besides the crater area, which are located respectively near the crater area, at the back of the target plate, and directly below the crater area. Under the high-speed-impact conditions, in zone II, cracks began to form at the end of the period of crack formation in zone I, but crack formation in zone III started before the end of crack formation in zone II. Further, the damage mechanism differed for different stress states. The microcracks in zone I were formed both by void connection and shear deformation. In the formation of zone I, the stress triaxiality ranged from-2.0 to-1.0, and the shear failure mechanism played a dominant role. The microcracks in zone II showed the combined features of shear deformation and void connection, and during the for-mation process, the stress triaxiality was between 0 and 0.5 with a mixed failure mode. Further, the microcracks in zone III showed obvious characteristics of void connection caused by local melting. During the zone III formation, the triaxiality was 1.0-1.9, and the ductile fracture mechanism was dominant, which also reflects the phenomenon of spallation.     

National restrictions in multinational military operations: A conceptual framework

Recent scholarship in security studies has started to explore the causes and consequences of various forms of national restrictions in multinational military operations (MMOs). This article makes a conceptual contribution to this literature by developing a theoretical framework of national restrictions in MMOs that distinguishes between structural, procedural, and operational restrictions. I argue that these types of restrictions are governed by different causal mechanisms. Structural restrictions are relatively stable over time and effect deployment decisions irrespective of other factors. Procedural restrictions, on the other hand, can constitute veto points against deployment only in combination with distinct political preferences. Finally, operational restrictions directly affect the rules of engagement of troop contributing countries. The article illustrates the three types of restrictions and their interaction with empirical examples from a range of countries and sketches their impact on MMO deployment decisions and mandates.     

Intelligence and military doctrine: paradox or oxymoron?

This article examines the evolution of the current British military joint intelligence doctrine. We argue that military intelligence doctrine is dogged by an intrinsic tension between the ethos and expectations of military doctrine and those of the professional practice of intelligence. We further argue not only that prior iterations of UK joint intelligence doctrine failed to effectively deal with this intelligence doctrine dilemma, but also that measures in the current doctrine to address this problem directly created their own problems. Moreover, as a result, otherwise sound innovations in the current UK intelligence doctrine have proven unsuitable to wider diffusion in more recent intelligence doctrine such as the new NATO intelligence doctrine which, otherwise, draws extensively on its British precursor.