Research on the Penetration of a Multilayer Protective Element by a 7.62-mm Bullet B-32
Abstract
Purpose. Research on the bulletproof resistance of multilayer protective elements with different options for arranging the layers of materials before being hit by a B-32 armor-piercing bullet.
Method: Numerical modeling, experiment.
Findings. The maximum relative error between the full-scale experiment and numerical modeling, in terms of penetration depth values, does not exceed 7% for armor steel and 8% for aluminum. The error value obtained between the experimental and numerical results allows us to apply the developed mathematical model of the numerical solution of penetration by an armor-piercing bullet B-32 of protective multilayer elements, both for assessing the level of ballistic resistance and for conducting parametric studies to select rational parameters of the design of a multilayer protective element. The obtained dependences of the change in the yield point show that its increase for armor steel leads to a proportional decrease in the penetration depth. For an aluminum alloy, such a decrease is not linear, which allows us to state that the obtained rational values of the yield point are no more than 300-350 MPa, since a further increase in the yield point does not lead to a significant decrease in penetration but significantly increases the cost of such an aluminum alloy. According to the results of the studies, it was established that combining the layers of the protective element in different sequences allows us to obtain different values of bulletproof resistance. Of the evaluated variants of multilayer protective elements, the most resistant to penetration are samples in which the first layer has high strength (layer of armor steel) and is supported by a layer of aluminum alloy. Combining a multilayer protective element in variants of the front layer of aluminum shows that such samples have substandard damage. The use of the first front layer of armor steel gives a better result compared to the use of two equivalent thickness layers of armor steel with an aluminum alloy layer between them.
Theoretical implications. The results obtained expand scientific understanding of the mechanisms of armor-piercing bullets penetrating multilayer metal barriers and the influence of physical and mechanical characteristics of materials on the penetration process. The developed and verified numerical model can be used for further theoretical and parametric research in the field of ballistic protection.
Practical implications. The use of multilayer protective elements with a combination of armor steel and aluminum alloys allows to increase the level of bulletproof protection of existing armored vehicles without a significant increase in overall dimensions and with a slight increase in mass. An additional layer of aluminum alloy also increases the anti-fragmentation resistance of the structure.
Originality. The originality of the work lies in the complex combination of full-scale experiments and numerical modeling to assess the penetration of multilayer protective elements by the B-32 armor-piercing bullet, as well as in determining the rational parameters of the materials and the order of their arrangement, taking into account both ballistic efficiency and mass characteristics.
Research limitations. The study was conducted for a specific type of threat — the 7.62 mm B-32 armor-piercing bullet. In the numerical simulation, only the bullet core was considered, without taking into account the jacket. A limited number of materials (Armox 500 and alloy 5083 H111) and variants of layer thicknesses and configurations were considered. The final assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed designs requires extended full-scale tests.
Paper type: Review, scientific-practical.
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