Metallic armour - from cast aluminium alloys to high-strength steels

In this paper both the structural and ballistic performance of armour materials is reviewed. The variety of candidate armour materials available today is complicated by the competition between possible fracture mechanisms within individual materials. This makes the choice of the appropriate material for an end use very difficult. However, it is by maintaining research programs aimed at the development of specific materials to meet well-defined requirements that a competitive edge in performance can be secured.