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Modeling of Failure Resulting from High-Velocity Ballistic Impact

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Handbook of Damage Mechanics

Abstract

This chapter presents an example of a high-velocity impact due to which the interacting bodies undergo severe deformation and damage. Based on literature sources fundamental for the topic, types of failure modes characteristic for thick metallic targets perforated by kinetic threats with high impact energy are shown and explained. A concept of the ballistic limit curve is introduced as a feature characterizing an impact configuration. The experimental example shows a range of phenomena occurring during an impact test and a research method aimed for their analysis. On its basis, a visualization of impact-induced changes in the aluminum target microstructure is presented. Furthermore, a finite element method (FEM) numerical analysis of threat–target interactions is performed employing a characterization of flow and fracture properties of the materials involved in the impact event. The modeling approach accounts for the strain rate and temperature sensitivity providing an insight into conditions leading to the deformation and failure of the colliding bodies. The given discussion will allow the reader to become familiar with processes modeled in experimental and numerical investigations encountered in the ballistic protection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL), Saint-Louis, France

    T. Fras

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  1. T. Fras
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Correspondence to T. Fras .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    George Z. Voyiadjis

Section Editor information

  1. Laboratory of Microstructure Studies and Mechanics of Materials, Lorraine University, Metz Cedex, France

    Alexis Rusinek

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Fras, T. (2022). Modeling of Failure Resulting from High-Velocity Ballistic Impact. In: Voyiadjis, G.Z. (eds) Handbook of Damage Mechanics . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60242-0_69

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