Numerical Analysis of the Ballistic Performance of a 6.35-mm Transparent Polycarbonate Plate

摘要

Polycarbonate is a lightweight polymer commonly used for transparent armor. In this study, an attempt is made to examine the ballistic performance of a 6.35-mm polycarbonate plate struck by spherical and fragment simulating projectiles. The ballistic limits of the target plate were obtained for three different sizes of spherical projectiles and two different calibres for the fragment simulating projectiles. The results obtained showed that, in addition to the mass, the geometry can significantly affect the ballistic performance of a target for these small calibre projectiles. It was shown that the ballistic limit of the Polycarbonate plate was smaller for a spherical projectile than a fragment simulating projectile of an equivalent mass. The crater development and plug formation for both the spherical and fragment simulating projectiles were examined based on observations of the localization of the high strain rate region and the distribution of the effective, plastic strain. It was found that the mode of plug formation of the two types of projectiles differs significantly. Fragment simulating projectiles create larger plugs.