Experimental validation of BLV model on bi-layer ceramic-metal armor

•Impact tests are performed to validate a BLV model presented earlier in IJIE.•Simulations of the impact tests are performed and relevant results are presented.•Optimal thickness and mass designs for the tested material system are numerically obtained.

A semi-analytical method to estimate the ballistic limit velocity (BLV) of bi-layer ceramic-metal armor under normal impact proposed in the International Journal of Impact Engineering, Vol 52 (2013) 37-46 is verified through gas gun experiments on alumina-aluminium armor system and simulations. The laboratory experiments mostly contained an inherent yaw. Initially, AUTODYN® hydrocode based numerical model, in which literature material model parameters are used, is proposed and the experimental measurements are compared with numerical simulation data. It is then shown that the semi-analytical BLV model results matches fairly well with normal impact simulation results and also limited literature experimental data. The significance of the validated semi-analytical model in estimation of BLV of the bi-layer ceramic–metal armor systems is described. Finally, optimal thickness and mass of the armor design for given total thickness and areal density are obtained.