Crack Detection in Armor Plates Using Ultrasonic Techniques (PREPRINT)

Abstract : A method of using piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers to characterize the vibrational modes of Vehicle Body Armor Support System (VBASS) plates and its preliminary results are presented. The amplitude of the vibrational modes of undamaged plates are compared to the vibrational mode amplitudes of damaged plates and shown to be clearly different. Plates for testing are damaged either by a blunt impact to the ceramic plate surface or cracked using a machine shop press. Data from these tests will be used to design prototype hand-held devices for the nondestructive testing (NDT) of plate structural in the field. VBASS plates are used as proof-of-principle saniples in the absence of vest body arnior saniples.