Perforation of 5083-H116 Aluminum Armor Plates with Ogive-Nose Rods and 7.62 mm APM2 Bullets

We conducted an experimental and analytical study to understand the mechanisms and dominant parameters for ogive-nose rods and 7.62 mm APM2 bullets that perforate 5083-H116 aluminum armor plates. The 20-mm-diameter, 95-mm-long, ogive-nose, 197 g, hard steel rods were launched with a gas gun to striking velocities between 230–370 m/s. The 7.62-mm-diameter, 10.7 g, APM2 bullet consists of a brass jacket, lead filler, and a 5.25 g, ogive-nose, hard steel core. The brass and lead were stripped from the APM2 bullets by the targets, so we conducted ballistic experiments with both the APM2 bullets and only the hard steel cores. These projectiles were fired from a rifle to striking velocities between 480–950 m/s. Targets were 20, 40, and 60-mm-thick, where the 40 and 60-mm-thick targets were made up of layered 20-mm-thick plates in contact with each other. The measured ballistic-limit velocities for the APM2 bullets were 4, 6, and 12% smaller than that for the hard steel cores for the 20, 40, and 60-mm-thick targets, respectively. Thus, the brass jacket and lead filler had a relatively small effect on the perforation process. In addition, we conducted large strain, compression tests on the 5083-H116 aluminum plate material for input to perforation equations derived from a cavity-expansion model for the ogive-nose rods and steel core projectiles. Predictions for the rod and hard steel core projectiles are shown to be in good agreement with measured ballistic-limit and residual velocity data. These experimental results and perforation equations display the dominant problem parameters.