Fractographic Assessment and FEM Energy Analysis of the Penetrability of a 6061-T Aluminum Ballistic Panel by a Fragment Simulating Projectile

In aviation and light vehicles, aluminum plates are often used instead of heavy shields as ballistic shields. The standard shrapnel was used in the analysis due to the fact that under hazardous conditions, the shrapnel destruction occurs more often than directly with a bullet. Analyses were performed in which the initial velocity and the angle of impact were the variables. The material of the aluminum plate (ballistic shield) with a thickness of 1 mm was divided into three-dimensional C3D4 tetragonal elements. The calculations were performed using the Johnson-Cook model for the impact at an adjustable velocity from 25 m/s to 55 m/s every 10 m/s and impact angle set between 0° and 45° in increments of 15°. Stress maps that allow observation of the plate degradation areas were placed in the plate. It was found that the penetration of the ballistic panel by the fragment under simulated conditions occurs at the initial velocity of this fragment greater than 25 m/s. The fragment simulating a projectile, hitting at a velocity of 35 m/s at an angle of not more than 15° perforates this panel. At an impact velocity of 45 m/s, perforation occurred at an impact angle of up to 30°. A further increase of the fragment’ velocity of impact on the plate resulted in its perforation even at the greatest impact angle.