DETERMINATION OF BALLISTIC LIMITS OF GLARE 5 FIBER-METAL LAMINATES: THE INFLUENCES OF GEOMETRY, THICKNESS AND STACKING SEQUENCE

In this paper, GLARE 5 fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) of two different geometries: 152.4mmx101.6mm (6"x4") plate and 254mmx25.4mm (10"x1") beam and with various thicknesses and stacking sequences were impacted by a 0.22 caliber bullet-shaped projectile using a high-speed gas gun. Velocities of the projectile along the ballistic trajectory were measured at different locations. For both geometries, the incident projectile impact velocity versus the residual velocity was plotted and numerically fitted according to the classical Lambert Jonas equation for the determination of ballistic limit velocity, V50. The results showed that V50 varied in a parabolic trend with respect to the metal volume fraction (MVF) and the specimen thickness for both geometries. It was found that by changing the geometry from a plate to a beam, the ballistic limit velocity increased. On the other hand, changing the stacking sequence had a less pronounced effect on V50 for both geometries. The quasi-isotropic beam and plate specimens offered relatively higher ballistic limit velocities compared to other types of stacking sequences in their own geometrical groups. Furthermore, the cross-ply and unidirectional beam specimens showed relatively higher V50 compared to their plate counterparts. Experimental results showed that the ballistic limit was almost the same for the quasi-isotropic layup FMLs of both plate and beam geometries.