Modeling and Simulation of Laminate Composite Materials (Mild Steel-Bulk Metallic Glass-Dyneema) for use as Ballistic Protection

Abstract

In this study, laminate composite materials are numerically modeled and simulated for application as ballistic protection. Using Abaqus Explicit FEA software for the numerical study, Mild Steel, Bulk Metallic Glass, and Dyneema were used as the target laminate materials and tested against 7.62mm API bullets. The maximum Von Mises stress was 9.003E8N/m² at a velocity of 275 m/s and a plate thickness of 10 mm, with an average deflection of 0.0008 m. The greatest Von Mises stress at 264m/s was 8.689E8 N/m², and the deflection was 0.00078 m. At 249 m/s, the Von Mises stress and deflection was 8.538E8N/m² and 0.00074m respectively. At 215m/s, the Von Mises stress was 8.510E8N/m2, and the average deflection was 0.00068m. Thicker targets of the same material and configuration deflect bullet kinetic energy more effectively than thin targets. The weight on the wearer increases with the thickness of the material used. The simulation demonstrated that a material with a 13mm thickness could withstand the impact of a 7.62API projectile traveling at a speed of up to 850m/s. According to NIJ Standard-0101.06, this ballistic limit satisfies the standards for Level IV armour because Level IV armour is intended to stop armour-piercing rifle rounds up to and including 30 caliber M2 AP ammunition, which has a comparable velocity range. Because level IV armour plates can only weigh a maximum of 3.6kg, a thickness of 14mm is suggested for the design, giving it a ballistic limit more than 850m/s. The thicker the material, the higher its ballistic limit.