Protection capability of dual flying plates against obliquely impacting long-rod penetrators

The protection capability of dual steel flying plates against obliquely impacting tungsten heavy alloy long-rod penetrators was simulated using NET3D code. The major variables considered in this work include thickness ratios of front to rear plate (5/0, 3.3/1.7, 2.5/2.5, 1.7/3.3, and 0/5) and plate velocity (0.2 and 0.5 km/s) at obliquity of 60°. Based on the residual kinetic energy of the penetrator after perforating the plates system, the protection capability of the system increased with an increase in the ratio of rear plate thickness. Such a trend was confirmed at a normal ordnance velocity (1.5 km/s) as well as a hypervelocity regime (2.5 km/s) and was shown to be best exploited when the relative velocity between the penetrator and rear plate was appropriate. A design guideline for an effective flying plate protection structure was proposed.