Rubber and magnetorheological fluid applied as the interlayer in composite armours against high-velocity loadings

Monolithic, homogenous ballistic shields consisting of a single thick, high-hardness and high-strength steel plate are rarely applied in modern combat vehicles. Currently, a popular armour concept is a multilayered shield since it is expected that the kinetic energy of a threat may be dissipated by transmission through materials with different properties and also by multiple interface reflections. Searching for a maximum ballistic protection at minimum weight inspires applications of various materials which complementary behaviour provides a high protective efficiency without excessive mass. The preliminary experimental investigation presented in the paper aimed to verify behaviour of two prototyped laminated armours under impacts of small-calibre projectiles (cal. 7.62). The main interest lied in impact properties of materials proposed as the intermediate layer. The first tested concept was a laminated steel armour with the 10 mm thick rubber interlayer. In the second armour, the intermediate layer consisted of a magnetorheological fluid.