Numerical modeling of the impact behavior of new particulate-loaded composite materials

Ballistic efficiency and cost are the main considerations in the design of lightweight armors. Metallic materials have the drawback of their high density. Mixed armors, of ceramic tiles backed by a metallic plate, are an efficient shield against low and medium caliber projectiles since they combine the light weight and high resistance of a ceramic with the ductility of a metal. The drawback is their high cost. The authors developed a new material composed of ceramic particles and a polymeric matrix. It fills the gap between metallic and ceramic materials and could be interesting for applications in which weight is not the primary concern and cost benefits are welcome. A model of the mechanical behavior of this composite is presented in this paper, implemented in a numerical code and validated by experimental results.