Experimental and numerical study of AA5086-H111 aluminum plates subjected to impact

An experimental and numerical study of medium-velocity impact (within the range of 120 m/s) has been conducted on thin AA5086-H111 aluminum square plates. Targets with different thicknesses (between 2.5 and 4 mm), stratifications and aluminum alloys have been normally impacted by projectiles with 30 mm diameter and 127 g weight. Experimental results show that a compromise is to be found between the alloy strength and ductility, taking into account the impact velocity and energy. Ductile aluminum like AA5086-H111 grade subjected to medium-velocity impacts, showed the best perforation resistance. A finite element analysis was carried out using the ABAQUS finite element code. Slightly modified versions of the Johnson–Cook models of flow stress and fracture strain were applied. A good correlation between experimental and numerical results was found. The effect of strain rate appears to be predominant in the rupture initiation for the aluminum under consideration. Stratification seems to be advantageous compared to monolithic solutions. However, there are limitations to this tendency.

► FE modeling of 120 m/s velocity impact on Al plate with experimental correlation.
► Integration of the alloy strain rate sensibility in the material law.
► Ductility and strain rate sensibility are key parameters to improve the resistance.
► Layered structures show better performances than monolithic structures.