Influence of lateral dimensions, obliquity, and target thickness toward the efficiency of unconfined ceramic tiles for the defeat of rod penetrators

Abstract In a recent study, the authors have shown that unconfined finite-thickness ceramic tiles can be used for a mass-efficient defeat of long-rod high-density projectiles under perpendicular impact conditions [Int. J. Impact Engineering 95, 54–60; 2016]. The present paper extends this work in several directions. Firstly, the influence of the lateral tile dimensions is investigated. Secondly, the effects of target obliquity at constant target design are taken into account. Thirdly, the effects of target obliquity at constant line-of-sight thickness are considered. All three aspects are related to the total target weight necessary for a full defeat of the projectile. Based on a separate investigation of those three aspects, the combined effect of tile dimensions, buffer thickness, and obliquity on the protective properties is analyzed. As a starting point, prior data is reviewed and further data supporting earlier published results is presented. It is concluded, that the basic defeat mechanisms persist for smaller lateral dimensions and partly also for oblique targets. However, they gradually diminish and it does not appear promising to compensate reduced ceramic tile thickness by obliquity. Rather, the mass efficiency is reduced for oblique impact configurations.