Reactive Panels with Non-Metallic Cover Plates

A study on how to perform reliable numerical simulations of the interaction between shaped charge jets and ERA-panels with non-metallic cover plates has been carried out in order to facilitate further studies on how panels with non-metallic cover plates can be used in ballistic protection designs. As reference for the simulations, a series of experiments have been performed with alumina (Al2O3), silicon carbide (SiC), boron carbide (B4C), glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and steel in the cover plates. Simulations comparable to the experimental cases were performed in LS-DYNA, where available material models and appropriate numerical formulations for the materials in this application were evaluated. A Lagrange-SPH approach and the JH-2 material model were found to be useful for the ceramics, while the GRP was modelled in Lagrange with a custom implemented material model. Each ply in the GRP was assigned as a separate part to accommodate for the variation in the anisotropic structure. The numerical simulations reproduce the behavior for the flyer plates and effect on the shaped charge jet found in the experiments.