Modelling transparent ceramics to improve military armour

The dominant materials solution used for ballistic transparency protection of armoured tactical platforms in commercial and military applications is low cost glass backed by polycarbonate. Development of next generation ceramics is critical to offering enhanced protection capability and extended service performance for future armoured windows to the soldier. Due to the high cost of testing transparent ceramics, a modelling approach has been undertaken in parallel with ballistic testing to validate armour designs based on a transparent magnesium aluminate spinel, MgAl2O4, striking-ply backed by polycarbonate. A key purpose is to characterize the influence of defects on the failure of laminates, both statically and dynamically tested. Finite element modelling is used to predict unsuccessful designs and reduce number of laminate configurations in experimental testing. A notional ceramic armour system based on spinel/polycarbonate assemblies is used to report results on the effect of surface and interior, equal area defects on the ballistic behavior of a laminates.