Effect of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Strength Properties on the Ballistic Performance of Ceramic Composite Armor

This report provides detailed results of an investigation of the effect of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) strength properties on ceramic composite armor ballistic performance. FRP laminates ranging from 5.3% - 19.5% resin content produced a range of weak to relatively strong panels in term of flexural strength, shear strength and elastic modulus. The low resin and corresponding low strength laminates yielded the most efficient armor systems when tested in conjunction with Aluminum Oxide (Alsub2Osub3) frontal ceramic component versus the 7.62 mm M80 Ball and .30 cal Armor Piercing projectiles. Although the 5.3% resin laminates possess very low flexural and shear strengths, the data indicates they have sufficient strength to provide adequate support to the ceramic component. High ballistic performance is more dependent on delamination, deformation and tensile elongation of the FRP material and is not dependent on ceramic component support as once believed. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.