Ballistic Efficiency of Multilayered Armor System Reinforced with Jute-Kevlar Epoxy Composite against High-Energy Steel Core Projectile

Abstract

For protection against high velocity projectile such as 7.62 mm or 5.56 mm, multilayered armor system (MAS) is suitably the best option. In the present work, the experimental study on MAS with a front Al2O3 ceramic tile followed by a composite of jute and kevlar reinforced with epoxy matrix has been studied. The analytical result has found to meet the performance requirement as specified by NIJ0101.06 when tested against 7.62 mm hard steel core (HSC) and mild steel core (MSC) projectile. It was found that all MAS with double ceramic tile has successfully defeated HSC and MSC projectile with maximum observed back face signature (BFS) as 26.71 mm and 28.70 mm, respectively. In case of single monolithic ceramic, 25.80 mm and 35.12 mm were the maximum observed BFS against HSC and MSC projectile. The extent of projectile damage has been more in HSC when compared to the MSC. Blunt erosion and core breakage were peculiar observations in HSC core, whereas a mushrooming and bulging were observed in MSC core. Macro- and SEM analysis of MAS has been studied to understand the energy dissipation and failure mechanism.