Heliyon (Apr 2021)
Ballistic performance of Polycarbonate and Polymethyl methacrylate under normal and inclined dynamic impacts
Abstract
Polymeric materials have exceptional mechanical properties, making them attractive for automotive, aerospace, defence and buildings industries. The numerical analysis of translucent polymeric materials' ballistic performance is investigated to analyse the deflection and perforation performance at high impact velocities. Computational methods are exploited to predict the ballistic performance of thick targets and projectile damage, and the results are validated against published works. The 3D numerical analysis is conducted by simulating plates and projectiles' mechanical performance that controls the deflection and ricochet procedure. Impact damage analysis is undertaken on monolithic Polycarbonate (PC) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) targets under various impact velocities, projectile's core density with inclined 30∘ and normal 90∘ impact angle. The results are analysed in terms of failure performance, depth of penetration (DOP), penetration path (POP), and residual velocity. The numerical analysis is further developed to investigate the projectile's impact velocity effects on the DOP and its direction. The results showed that the DOP changes linearly with the impact velocity, where the POP is as yet nonlinear. Extended Drucker Prager Strength (EDP) material model with the failure criteria of principal stress and tensile pressure failure is used to simulate the brittle-ductile PMMA target's performance under dynamic impact. Shock Hugoniots equation of state with plastic strain failure is conducted to affect PC plates' tensile performance.
