SwRI: Armor Mechanics. SwRI has established an integrated approach to investigate, and solve problems in armor mechanics

  image of numerical simulation of long-rod projectile against spaced armor array.
 

Numerical simulation of a long-rod projectile against a spaced-armor array

The armor mechanics staff at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is internationally recognized for contributions to fundamental and applied understanding of penetration mechanics and armor mechanics.

 

For more than 30 years, SwRI staff has been using an integrated approach, including experimentation, numerical simulation, and analytical modeling, to investigate and solve fundamental and applied problems in:

  • Armor mechanics

  • Armor applications

  • Armor design

    • Reactive systems

    • Active systems

    • Armor concepts

  • Armor evaluation and studies

    • Experimental

    • Analytical

    • Computational

  image of scale-model ceramic laminate targets
 

Scale-model ceramic laminate (RHA/Al2O3/RHA) targets

High-speed diagnostics and a wide variety of launchers support experimental studies. A complementary high-rate materials laboratory allows material characterization and determination of computational constitutive constants.


Armor Mechanics Applications and Experience

  • Low-speed impact

  • Small arms

  • Anti-tank kinetic energy projectiles

  • Chemical energy threats

  • Armor efficiency assessment

  • Evaluation of penetrator defeat mechanisms

  • Testing of passive armor, reactive armor, and active armor

  image of flash x-ray of long-rod projectile in flight; same projectile after impact to induce fracture
 

Flash x-ray of a long-rod projectile in flight (top); same projectile after impact to induce fracture (bottom)

Armor Technologies

Types of Armor

  • Monolithic

  • Multi-material

  • Multi-component

  • Spaced plate

  • Heavy

  • Light

  • Reactive

  • Active


Armor Materials

  • Metallics

  • Ceramics

  • Composites

  • Fabrics

  • Explosives

  • Inert elements

 

  image of damaged ceramic tile, impacted by 7.62-mm APM2 bullet
 

Damaged ceramic tile, impacted by a 7.62-mm APM2 bullet

Projectiles / Threats

  • Long rods

  • Medium caliber

    • 14.5 (B32, BS41)

    • 30-mm AP

    • 30-mm APDS

  • Small arms

    • Rifle

    • Handgun

    • Armor-piercing

    • Ball

  • Frament-simulating projectiles (FSPs)

  • Shaped charges


Defeat Mechanisms

  • Target strength

  • Obliquity

  • Fracture

  • Yaw

  • Rotation

  • Spaced elements

  • Erosion

  • Spreading the load


Armor Mechanics Applications

  • Ballistic limit

  • Ballistic protection design

  • Armor concept evaluation

  • Design improvements

  • Response of two types of aluminum alloys to impact by a lead-filled ball round

 

image of response of an aluminum alloy to impact by lead-filled ball round   image of response of an aluminum alloy to impact by lead-filled ball round

Response of two types of aluminum alloys to impact by a lead-filled ball round


Armor Mechanics Facilities

  • Indoor ballistics range

  • 20- to 30-mm high-performance gun system

  • 50-mm high-performance cannon (impact velocities up to ~2.0 km/s)

  • Outdoor test areas, up to 1,000 yards

  • Storage, handling, and application of explosives

  • Fully equipped instrumentation trailer (high-speed data acquisition of pressure, strain, displacement, etc.)

  • Flash radiography

  • High-speed video (up to 60,000 frames per second)

  • Ultra-high-speed digital imaging (up to 100 million frames per second)

 

For more information about armor mechanics capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Charles E. Anderson, Jr., Ph.D., at canderson@swri.org or (210) 522-2313.

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Printed from:
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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.