FLASH X-RAY CINEMATOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF DWELL AND PENETRATION OF SMALL CALIBRE PROJECTILES WITH THREE TYPES OF SIC CERAMICS

摘要

In order to improve the performance of ceramic composite armor it isessential to know the mechanisms during each phase of the projectile/targetinteraction and their influence on the penetration resistance. Since the view onthe crater zone and the tip of a projectile penetrating a ceramic is rapidlygetting obscured by damaged material, a flash X-ray technique has to beapplied in order to visualize projectile penetration. At EMI a flash X-rayimaging method has been developed, which provides up to eight flashradiographs in one experiment. A multi-anode 450 kV flash X-ray tube isutilized with this method. The radiation transmitted through the target is thendetected on a fluorescent screen. The fluorescent screen converts theradiograph into an image in the visible wavelength range, which isphotographed by means of a high-speed camera. This technique has beenapplied to visualize and analyze the penetration of 7.62 mm AP projectilesinto three different types of SiC ceramics. Two commercial SiC grades andMICASIC (Metal Infiltrated Carbon derived SiC), a C-SiSiC ceramicdeveloped by DLR, have been studied. The influences, not only of theceramic but also the backing material, on dwell time and projectile erosionhave been studied. Penetration curves have been determined and theirrelevance to the ballistic resistance is being discussed.