Ballistic efficiency of hybrid multilayered body armor against 9 mm FMJ bullet

Body armor is a material to protect the body from injury from various kinds of high-velocity projectile in combat or other dangerous situations. Researchers explored new body armor technology due to the invention of new firearms. This research targeted to create and investigate the hybrid composite under ballistic impact experimentally and theoretically. Multilayered armors made of Al2O3 ceramic/ UHMWPE woven fabric reinforced epoxy/steel were developed. Ceramic (Al2O3) is the first protection line against bullets. UHMWPE reinforced epoxy represents the intermediate composite. Steel was used for the back layer. Armor with of 900 cm2 area was shot with a 9 mm full metal jacket FMJ bullet at 5 m distance and a velocity of 310 m/s. Ansys (Autodyn 3D) were used to create a simulation of the ballistic test. The behavior of specimens was assessed using an integrated methodological approach involving experimentation and simulation. The armor stopped the 9mm FMJ bullet without perforation. According to the finding, fiber-reinforced epoxy and the ceramic layer absorbed higher energy, but the steel layer absorbed less energy. Analysis by Ansys Autodyn is to compare the level of distortion predicted by the software with data from experiments that revealed similar deformations with good agreement. Internal energy that absorbed by Al2O3 was (65%), UHMWPE woven fabric was (26%), and steel was (1%).