Design and Development of Novel AA7075-T6 based Armor Plate through Numerical and Experimental Approach

Abstract

The materials used for ballistic applications have always taken a special spot in the manufacturing and study of protective amours. Although metals like steel provide adequate ballistic protection, they compromise the mobility of the soldier and since high mobility is a primary requirement for soldiers during combat. Therefore, at present most of the researchers are currently focusing on materials with properties like high impact resistance and high strength to weight ratio. In recent times, Aluminum alloys are recognized as the alternative materials which can provide good impact resistance and have a high strength to weight ratio and having better corrosion resistant properties which ultimately make it a suitable material for several military applications. In this research, one of the toughest aluminum alloys AA7075-T6 is considered for designing an armor plate and studied for its ballistic resistance. Initially, the monolithic AA7075-T6 alloy of 18 mm was tested for its ballistic resistance limit and further it is designed with the ceramic plate of 3 mm and base alloy AA7075-T6 of 15 mm was tested to evaluate. Later the monolithic alloy of 18 mm was surface reinforced up to a thickness of 3 mm with different types of reinforcements and evaluated the bullet residual velocity after penetration of the armor piercing projectile. Numerical simulation was conducted using the prominent non-linear dynamic analysis software i.e., Ansys AUTODYNE version 19.2 and the respective values for the surface reinforced metal matrix composites revealed excellent results for the depth of penetration and residual velocity of the projectile.