Numerical modelling and design of ALFC shield loaded by 20 MM FSP fragment

The study develops numerical modelling and design of the ALFC shield loaded by the 20 mm 54 g FSP fragment moving at impact velocity of 1800 m/s (fragmentation simulation of IED devices), used to protect 5 mm-thick Armox 500T steel plate. The ALFC shield is composed of the ALF energy-absorbing subsystem and a 99.7% Al2O3 alumina ceramic layer. The ALF subsystem is designed to absorb blast wave impact energy induced by explosive materials up to 10 kg TNT. The ceramic layer is aimed at stopping FSP fragments. The 5 mm-thick Armox 500T steel plate reflects the body bottom segment of a light armoured vehicle. The main purpose of the study is to determine the minimum thickness of the ceramic layer at which the 5 mm-thick Armox 500T steel plate is fully protected from perforation. The ALF subsystem has the following layered structure: Al2024 aluminium alloy plate, SCACS hybrid laminate plate, ALPORAS aluminium foam, SCACS hybrid laminate plate. The layers are joined with Soudaseal 2K chemoset glue. SCACS hybrid laminate contains the following components: VE 11-M modified vinylester resin (matrix), SWR800 glass S plain weave fabric, Tenax HTA40 6K carbon plain weave fabric, Kevlar 49 T 968 aramid plain weave fabric. The total thickness of the ALF shield amounts to 76 mm. In the numerical modelling, the aluminium alloy plate and Armox 500T steel plate are working in the elasto-plastic range according to Johnson–Cook model. The 99.7% Al2O3 alumina ceramic is working in elasto--hort range according to JH-2 Johnson-Holmquist model. The simulations correspond to large displacements, large deformations and contact among all the components of the system. In FE mesh, the 8-node 24 DOF hexahedral finite elements with single integration point have been used. Additional failure criteria governing ad-hoc erosion of finite elements have been applied. The FEM modelling, simulation and postprocessing have been carried out using Catia, HyperMesh, LS-DYNA and LS-PrePost systems. The simulation results are presented in the form of displacement - perforation contours and the FSP final deformation for both the FSP–shield-plate and the FSP-plate systems. It has been pointed out that 18 mm-thick ceramic layer protects the LAV body bottom plate from perforation.