Numerical modeling and analysis of the ballistic impact response of ceramic/composite targets and the influence of cohesive material parameters

Hybrid ceramic/composite targets are acknowledged to provide effective impact protection against armor piercing projectiles, which is why the research on this topic is continuously developing further. In this work, a nonlinear dynamic finite element (FE) simulation method is developed to systematically explore the ballistic perforation behaviors of hybrid ceramic/woven-fabric reinforced polymer (WFRP) composite when impacted by a non-deformable projectile. The hybrid system is composed by an alumina ceramic plate forming the front surface and glass or carbon WFRP composite back-up plate. The simulations are carried out using ABAQUS/Explicit FE code, wherein three different constitutive material models are formulated and implemented. The Johnson–Holmquist and composite damage models are used for alumina and composite material behaviors, respectively. The brittle fracture and fragmentation of the ceramic plate and the failure criteria based on fracture of fibers or matrices of composite materials during perforation are considered. Besides, interlaminar delamination between composite plies as well as ceramic/composite interfacial decohesion are modeled using a cohesive surface method, and the behaviors of interlayer degradation and failure are described using a traction-separation law. The accuracy of the developed model is validated with available experimental and analytical results. What’s more, the perforation process against the projectile and the ballistic mechanism of each layer in the composite backplate and in the ceramic as well are profoundly explored. Meanwhile, the numerical simulations are used to evaluate the changes of energy of the projectile and ceramic/composite panels. The influence of key parameters, such as interface cohesive properties and friction, on the ballistic performance in terms of energy absorption capability is additionally addressed. For the preliminary and early design phase, the present dynamic model could provide an efficient approach for numerical predictions of ballistic impact responses of the hybrid ceramic/FRP composites.