Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles

This paper is investigating the use of composite armour reinforced by nanomaterials, for the protection of light armoured (LAV) and medium armoured military vehicles (MAV), and the interaction between the composite materials and high-performance ballistic projectiles. Four armour materials, consiste...

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Main Authors: Evangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis, Evangelos Daskalakis, Mohamed H. Hassan, Abdalla M. Omar, Paulo Bartolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2024-02-01
Series:Defence Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214914723001186
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author Evangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis
Evangelos Daskalakis
Mohamed H. Hassan
Abdalla M. Omar
Paulo Bartolo
author_facet Evangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis
Evangelos Daskalakis
Mohamed H. Hassan
Abdalla M. Omar
Paulo Bartolo
author_sort Evangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis
collection DOAJ
description This paper is investigating the use of composite armour reinforced by nanomaterials, for the protection of light armoured (LAV) and medium armoured military vehicles (MAV), and the interaction between the composite materials and high-performance ballistic projectiles. Four armour materials, consisted of front hybrid fibre reinforced polymer cover layer, ceramic strike-face, fibre reinforced polymer intermediate layer and the metal matrix composite reinforced backplate, were manufactured and assembled by adhesive technology. The proposed laminated protection system is suitable for armoured ground vehicles; however, it could be used as armour on ground, air and naval platforms. The design of the protection system, including material selection and thickness, was elaborated depending on the performance requirements of Level 4 + STANAG 4569 military standard (projectile 14.5 mm × 114 mm API B32) and especially on a design philosophy which is analysed with the specifications. The backplate of this new composite is a hybrid material of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), manufactured with the use of powder metallurgy technique. The composite backplate material was morphologically, mechanically and chemically analysed. Results show that all plates are presenting high mechanical properties and ballistic characteristics, compared to commonly used armour plates. Real military ballistic tests according to AEP - STANAG 4569 were carried out for the total composite armour systems. After the ballistic tests, AA2024-CNT3 showed the best protection results, compared with the other plates (AA2024-CNT1 and AA2024-CNT2), with the projectile being unable to fully penetrate the composite plate.
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spelling doaj.art-f2fd3e6c9a82496a9b1c0d825eb2c2602024-03-06T05:26:58ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Defence Technology2214-91472024-02-0132173195Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehiclesEvangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis0Evangelos Daskalakis1Mohamed H. Hassan2Abdalla M. Omar3Paulo Bartolo4EODH SA, Research and Development Department, Lakkoma Chalkidikis, 63080, Greece; Corresponding author.School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UKSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UKSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UKSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK; Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, SingaporeThis paper is investigating the use of composite armour reinforced by nanomaterials, for the protection of light armoured (LAV) and medium armoured military vehicles (MAV), and the interaction between the composite materials and high-performance ballistic projectiles. Four armour materials, consisted of front hybrid fibre reinforced polymer cover layer, ceramic strike-face, fibre reinforced polymer intermediate layer and the metal matrix composite reinforced backplate, were manufactured and assembled by adhesive technology. The proposed laminated protection system is suitable for armoured ground vehicles; however, it could be used as armour on ground, air and naval platforms. The design of the protection system, including material selection and thickness, was elaborated depending on the performance requirements of Level 4 + STANAG 4569 military standard (projectile 14.5 mm × 114 mm API B32) and especially on a design philosophy which is analysed with the specifications. The backplate of this new composite is a hybrid material of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), manufactured with the use of powder metallurgy technique. The composite backplate material was morphologically, mechanically and chemically analysed. Results show that all plates are presenting high mechanical properties and ballistic characteristics, compared to commonly used armour plates. Real military ballistic tests according to AEP - STANAG 4569 were carried out for the total composite armour systems. After the ballistic tests, AA2024-CNT3 showed the best protection results, compared with the other plates (AA2024-CNT1 and AA2024-CNT2), with the projectile being unable to fully penetrate the composite plate.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214914723001186Passive armour protectionProtective armourBallistic performanceHybrid compositesVehicle protection
spellingShingle Evangelos Ch. Tsirogiannis
Evangelos Daskalakis
Mohamed H. Hassan
Abdalla M. Omar
Paulo Bartolo
Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
Defence Technology
Passive armour protection
Protective armour
Ballistic performance
Hybrid composites
Vehicle protection
title Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
title_full Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
title_fullStr Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
title_full_unstemmed Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
title_short Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles
title_sort ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by cnts suitable for armoured vehicles
topic Passive armour protection
Protective armour
Ballistic performance
Hybrid composites
Vehicle protection
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214914723001186
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AT abdallamomar ballisticdesignandtestingofacompositearmourreinforcedbycntssuitableforarmouredvehicles
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