Simulation of high speed impact into ceramic composite systems using cohesive-law fracture model

A numerical study for the analysis of oblique metal/ceramic/metal three layer composite systems against a long-rod has been performed. The study was done using a three-dimensional dynamic program NET3D, which uses the finite element Lagrangian method with explicit time integration. To model the discrete nature for fracture and damage of brittle materials, we implemented cohesive-law fracture model with a node separation algorithm for the tensile failure and Mohr–Coulomb model for the compressive loading. A tetrahedral element implemented in the code provides more potential fracture surfaces than a hexahedral element. As a verification of the scheme, an oblique impact into the composite system was conducted and the calculated penetration depth and propagating crack paths were found to be in good agreement with experiment. Next a series of three-dimensional numerical simulations have been conduced to examine the ballistic performance of three layer composite systems. The residual velocity and residual length of the rod were computed for different plate thickness ratios of equal areal density. The impact velocities considered are 1.5, 1.8 and 2.2 km/s. The oblique angle of the plate is 0° and 45°. The optimum thickness ratios of ceramic to metal are very similar to those obtained from the previous experiment.