Impact response of thin aluminium plates and hemispherical shells

ABSTRACT

An experimental and numerical investigation has been carried out to compare the ballistic performance and energy absorption characteristics of plate and hemispherical shells made of 1100-H12 aluminium against projectile impact. For direct comparison, the thickness (1 mm) and diameter (68, 100, 150 and 200 mm) of both the target were kept identical. With varying incidence velocity within the range of sub-ordnance velocity, two distinct shapes of nosed projectiles, ogive and blunt, were impacted normally at the centre and crown of the plates and shells, respectively.A pressure gun was employed to perform the ballistic test whereas the numerical simulations were carried out through commercial finite element code ABAQUS and a close correlation between the experimental and numerical findings was observed. The response of both the targets was investigated in terms of failure mechanics, global and local deformation, ballistic limit, residual velocity and energy absorption in plastic deformation against both the projectiles.

KEYWORDS:

• Hemispherical shell
• plate
• projectile nose shape
• energy absorption characteristic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.