The effect of the interlayer on the ballistic performance of ceramic/composite armors: Experimental and numerical study

The effect of rubber, Teflon and aluminum foam interlayer material on the ballistic performance of composite armor was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Although, rubber interlayer did not cause any significant delay in the initial stress build-up in the composite layer, Teflon and aluminum foam interlayer caused a significant delay and reduction in the magnitude of the stress transmitted to the composite backing plate. Damage in the ceramic layer was found to be highly localized around the projectile impact zone for the configuration without interlayer and rubber interlayer while aluminum foam and Teflon interlayer spread the damage zone in the radial direction. Relatively large pieces of the ceramic around the impact axis in the rubber interlayer configuration were observed while the ceramic layer was efficiently fragmented in aluminum foam and Teflon interlayer configuration.

► The effect of interlayer material on the ballistic performance was investigated. ► Rubber did not cause delay in the initial stress build-up in the composite. ► Teflon and aluminum foam caused delay and reduction in the stress. ► Damage in the ceramic was highly localized for without and rubber. ► Aluminum foam and Teflon spread the damage in ceramic.