Effect of Varied Layer-Content/Thickness on Ballistic Performance of a Functionally Graded Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ Material

Abstract:

This study compared the ballistic performance of alumina (Al₂O₃)/ zirconia (ZrO₂) functionally graded material (FGM) specimens with various levels of thickness and ZrO₂ content and a pure Al₂O₃ single-layer ceramic composite (PCM). Ballistic tests were conducted with 0.3-inch armor-piercing (AP) projectiles, and finite element code LS-DYNA was used to examine energy absorption, stress distribution, and ceramic cone failure in the specimens. The findings are as follows: First, regarding energy absorption per unit of areal density, the 5% FGMs had the highest ballistic performance, which increased by up to 8%. By contrast, the ballistic performance of the 15% FGMs declined significantly to lower than that of the PCM. Second, the capability of the ceramic cone to withstand stress damage and projectiles was significantly greater in the 5% FGMs than in the 15% FGMs. Third, the wave impedance variations increased with the ZrO₂ content in each layer, thereby enhancing the interactions between impact waves and aggravating ceramic damage. Thus, the intensities of transmission and reflection waves in the 15% FGMs increased, thereby causing reductions in its ballistic performance.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 928)
• Pages: 243-248
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.928.243
• Online since: August 2018
• Authors: Yu Liang Chen*, Chin Yu Huang
• Keywords: Ballistic Test, FGM, LS-DYNA

References

[1] J.W. McCauley, G. D'Andrea, K. Cho, M.S. Burkins, R.J. Dowding, W.A. Gooch, Status report on SPS TiB2-TiB-Ti functionally graded materials (FGMs) for armor, Report Documentation of U.S. Army Research Laboratory, (2006) 1-26.

[2] S. Feli, M.E. Aalami Aaleagha, Z. Ahmadi, A new analytical model of normal penetration of projectiles into the light-weight ceramic–metal targets, International Journal of Impact Engineering, 37 (2010) 561-567.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2009.10.006

[3] I.G. Grouch, L.J. Greaves, C. Ruiz, J. Harding, Dynamic compression of toughened epoxy interlayers in adhesively bonded aluminium laminates, Journal De Physique. IV : JP, 4 (1994) 201-206.

DOI: 10.1051/jp4:1994829

[4] A. Arias, R. Zaera, J. López-Puente, C. Navarro, Numerical modeling of the impact behavior of new particulate-loaded composite materials, Composite Structures, 61 (2003) 151-159.

DOI: 10.1016/s0263-8223(03)00038-2

[5] J. López-Puente, A. Arias, R. Zaera, C. Navarro, The effect of the thickness of the adhesive layer on the ballistic limit of ceramic/metal armours. An experimental and numerical study, International Journal of Impact Engineering, 32 (2005).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2005.07.014

[6] X.F. Zhang, Y.C. Li, On the comparison of the ballistic performance of 10% zirconia toughened alumina and 95% alumina ceramic target, Materials and Design, 31 (2010) 1945-(1952).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2009.10.046

[7] T.J. Holmquist, G.R. Johnson, D.E. Grady, C.M. Lopatin, E.S. Hertel, High strain rate properties and constitutive modeling of glass, 15th International Symposium on Ballistics, Jerusalem, Israel, (1995).

DOI: 10.2172/41367

[8] G.R. Johnson, T.J. Holmquist, An improved computational constitutive model for brittle materials, American Institute of Physics, (1994) 981-984.

[9] T.J. Holmquist, D.W. Templeton, K.D. Bishnoi, Constitutive modeling of aluminum nitride for large strain, high-strain rate, and high-pressure applications, International Journal of Impact Engineering, 25 (2001) 211-231.

DOI: 10.1016/s0734-743x(00)00046-4

[10] J.O. Hallquist, LS-DYNA Theory Manual, livermore sofware technology corporation, (2006) 19.142-119.143.

[11] C.Y. Huang, Impact Resistant Analysis of Functionally Graded Ceramic Composite, in: School of Defense Science, Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, 2017, p.63.

[12] S. Tekeli, Fracture toughness (KIC), hardness, sintering and grain growth behaviour of 8YSCZ/Al2O3 composites produced by colloidal processing, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 391 (2005) 217-224.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2004.08.084