Experimental Investigation of Ballistic Performance of Free Particle Armor Systems

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 518 - 543, 26.12.2023

Emre Aytav Abdullah Mahir Işık

https://doi.org/10.55546/jmm.1354113

Abstract

Recent armor studies generally rely on improving the single-shot capabilities of ceramic armors. In multi-shot studies, ballistics tests assume that there is a certain distribution, so these successive shots were not made from exact same point. With these shots, thus, the armor completely loses its effectiveness. In this study, the ballistic performance of damaged and undamaged free particle armor system in multiple hits from exact same and different points was experimentally investigated. The new armor system, consisting Al2O3 free ceramic balls, tested with 9 mm FMJ and 7.62 mm API ammunition. This armor system prevented perforation in multi-hits from the same point, and the depth of depression in ballistic clay was 9.42 mm and bullet deviation in trajectory was 27 mm. In the shots with dispersion, depression depth was limited to 3.52 mm and deviation increased with each shot. As a result, it has been found that the free particle armor system performs more ballistic efficiency than conventional armors even in the most challenging conditions. The ceramic balls, being more irregularly and densely spaced with each shot, increase the likelihood of the bullet hitting at larger angles and increase ricochet in direct proportion.

Keywords

ceramic armour, Al2O3, Free Spherical Particles, Terminal Ballistic, Multi-Hits, Aramids, Ballistic Clay

Serbest Parçacıklı Zırh Sistemlerinin Balistik Performansının Deneysel Olarak İncelenmesi

Abstract

Günümüz zırh çalışmalarında, araştırmacılar tarafından seramik zırhların çoklu atışlardaki performanslarından ziyade tek vuruş kabiliyetlerinin geliştirilmesine odaklanılmaktadır. Çok atışlı testlerde ise belli bir dağılım olduğu varsayılmakta bu nedenle tam olarak aynı nokta üzerinden atışlar yapılmamaktadır. Dağılım ile yapılan bu atışlarda ise zırhlar etkinliğini büyük oranda yitirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, literatürde yer almayan ve tam olarak aynı nokta üzerinden, hasar almış ve hasar almamış zırh sistemine yapılan mükerrer atışların serbest parçacıklı zırh sisteminin balistik performansına olan etkisi ile belirli bir dağılım çapındaki çoklu vuruşlardaki davranışları deneysel olarak ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu kapsamda, Al2O3 serbest yapılı seramik bilyelerle oluşturulan yeni zırh sistemi, 9 mm FMJ ve 7.62 mm API mühimmatları ile gerçek zamanlı atışlarla standartlara uygun olarak test edilmiştir. Tam olarak aynı noktadan yapılan çoklu atışlarda, zırh sisteminin perforasyon oluşumunu önlendiği, balistik kil çöküntü derinliğinin 9.42 mm ve sapma miktarının 27 mm olduğu tespit edilmiştir. 40 mm dağılma çapı ile yapılan atışlarda ise çöküntü derinliği 3.52 mm ile sınırlı kalırken sapma miktarı 46 mm olmuştur. Zırh delici mühimmat atışında, seramik bilyelerin kinetik enerjiyi aramid katmanlara ulaşmadan büyük oranda absorbe ettiği ve mühimmatın bütünlüğünün bozulduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, seramik bilyelerle oluşturulan serbest parçacıklı zırh sisteminin balistik koruyuculuğunun, konvensiyonel zırhlara göre en zayıf şartlarda dahi başarılı olduğu, devamlı atışlarda yapısal olarak daha yoğun hale gelerek etkileşimde bulunan mermiyi her atışla beraber daha yüksek oranlarda mermi yolundan saptırdığı görülmüştür.

Keywords

Seramik Zırh, Al2O3, Serbest Küresel Parçacıklar, Hedef Balistiği, Çoklu Vuruş, Aramid, Balistik Kil

Thanks

This study is derived from the master's thesis titled "The Effect of Free Particle Modular Armor System Design on Ballistic Performance". We thank CES Advanced Composites and Defense Techonologies INC (Ankara/Turkey) for ballistic testing laboratory facilities.

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