Author(s)

V. Sanchez-Galvez

Abstract

Lightweight armours are being increasingly introduced as protective structures against small and medium calibre projectiles, as well as explosive fragments in such different applications like body jackets, helmets, aircraft cockpit seats, military vehicles and ships. Performance of composite armours ceramic/metal and ceramic/composite shows a clear improvement with respect to monolithic metal armours. The paper illustrates the experimental behaviour of several composite armours under impact of small calibre projectiles. Also, analytical models simulating the experimental behaviour of ceramic/metal and ceramic/composite armours are described, showing the possibilities of such models for helping the designer of protective structures impacted by small and medium calibre projectiles and fragments.

Keywords