In this study, novel lamination techniques are introduced for the coating of fabrics in order to enhance their ballistic/needle penetration resistance properties. Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) was used to create flexible ballistic composite panels with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric. An increase in processing pressure from 0.1 to 8 MPa significantly improved the ballistic performance against 9 mm FMJ ammunition of UHMWPE composite. The number of layers required to stop the bullet were reduced from 45 to 22 layers after lamination without a significant increase in stiffness. The backface signature (BFS) was reduced from 19.2 mm for the 45 layer neat samples to 11.7 mm for the 25 layer laminated samples pressed at 8 MPa. The second lamination technique used patterned thermoplastic hot film to create flexible UHMWPE composite laminates. Hexagonal patterns were cut through a heat transfer vinyl carrier sheet using a vinyl cutter and was used as a mask between the UHMWPE fabric and hot film during heat treatment in order to have the fabric coated only on those regions. The patterns had a nominal diameter of 27.9 mm with a 1 mm gap between each region. A significant improvement in the ballistic performance of UHMWPE fabric is observed after coating each individual layer with patterned hot film and 25 layers of laminated fabric were sufficient to stop a .357 magnum FMJ ammunition compared to unlaminated neat fabric which required 45 layers to stop the bullet. Patterning of the hot film did not negatively affect the ballistic performance of the composite laminates whilst increasing their flexibility in relation to using plain hot film with no patterning involved. It resulted in a 21% increase in bending angle of the 25 layer samples v and 9.5% reduction in bending length of the single plies which both relate to greater flexibility because a higher bending angle and lower bending length correlates to more flexibility. The same technique of patterning of hot film is used in the lamination of woven cotton fabric to enhance needle penetration resistance properties whilst maintaining the flexibility. Patterns used in this study were either hexagonal or a combination of hexagons and triangles and the nominal diameter ranged from 2.6-13.5 mm. The lamination significantly improved the 25G hypodermic needle penetration resistance of the fabric. By increasing the number of laminated fabric plies from 1 to 2, the needle resistance force increased by up to 150%. However, in comparison to just one layer, the flexibility decreased by about 12% to 26% for two and three layers, respectively. It was observed that reducing the sizes of the patterns improved the flexibility of the samples by up to 30% without compromising the needle penetration resistance. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Finite Element Modeling of Ballistic Impact on a Glass Fiber Composite Armor Dan Davis Experiments measuring the ballistic performance of a commercially available fiberglass armor plate were used to guide the development of constitutive laws for a finite element model of the impact. The test samples are commercially available armor panels, made from E-glass fiber reinforced polyester rated to NIJ level III. Quasi-static tensile tests were used to establish material properties of the test panels. These properties were then used to create models in the explicit finite element code LSDYNA. Ballistic impact testing of the panels was conducted using a compressed gas gun firing spherical steel projectiles oriented normal to the test panel surface. The V50 ballistic limit of these panels was found to be approximately 560 m/s. Tuning parameters in the finite element models were adjusted to match the experimentally measured penetration depths and ballistic limits. Models were created in LSDYNA by adjusting the available material library types 3 and 59 for the target, and material type 15 for the projectile. Type 3 models are isotropic, and resulted in shear punch-out type failures of the plate that poorly replicated the test results. Type 59 takes orthotropic properties into consideration, and can analyze delamination when used with solid elements. Results with model type 59 were significantly better than those using type 3, however, this model was found to vastly underestimate the impact resistance of the plate. With significant adjustments to the material properties in the type 59 model, the LSDYNA simulations were found to better replicate the experimentally observed response of the panels. However, these deformations are questionable since they required quite unrealistic adjustments to the material properties.

No description available.

Terminal ballistics study multivariate behavior and aftermath of projectile and target interactions. Tests and models are often based on monolithic armors, however, layered and spaced armors are common in real world applications. Such configurations add complexities that require research to understand their effects on terminal ballistics. The ballistic limit velocity (V50) represents the speed where armor perforation probability is 50%. It is used for quantitative comparison of protection capabilities for different armors. This research studied the V50 of spaced and layered A36 steel armors against fragment simulating projectiles (FSPs). Four methods for estimating armor V50 were evaluated and compared to experimental data. The first two methods were analytical methods from literature, the third was finite element (FE) simulations in EPIC, and the fourth was a Monte Carlo method developed in this research. The Monte Carlo method using 100,000 iterations was the most accurate and efficient of all methods.

No description available.

Stridsvagnsminan har varit ett vapen sedan 1916 och därefter har minan tillfört ytterligare en dimension till striden. Minorna har utvecklats under åren och blivit mer avancerade och fler system har möjlighet att placera ut minor. Understödsbehov och framtida bekämpningskoncept, en rapport från Artilleriets stridsskola, visade att avståndslagda minor är ett vapensystem som kan användas i striden för att bekämpa fordon. Försvarsmakten planerar att införskaffa ett system som har kapacitet till avståndslagd minering. Syftet med studien var att beskriva hur användningen av fordonsåverkande avståndslagda minor kan påverkas då de används i strid i olika svenska terrängtyper. Fem officerare från olika delar av Sverige intervjuades där de fick beskriva hur avståndslaga minor kunde användas i strid. Därefter analyserades svaren utifrån två scenarion, Skåne respektive Norrland, som representerar öppen terräng respektive betäckt terräng i syfte att se hur avståndslagda minors användning påverkar teorin om kombinerade vapen med en mekaniserad skyttebataljon. Analysen av de två scenariona visade att det blev svårare att uppnå kombinerade vapen i öppen terräng jämfört med betäckt terräng på grund av god framkomlighet och brist på kanaliserad terräng. Vilket skulle innebära att fler avståndslagda minorna skulle behövas för att påverka en motståndare i öppen terräng.

O presente trabalho propõe um modelo para avaliar a confiabilidade estrutural do cabo umbilical, levando em consideração os mecanismos de falha por escoamento e por fadiga mecânica. Esta análise é focada na avaliação estrutural das armaduras metálicas, dado que estes elementos suportam quase toda a carga à tração e limitam as deformações axiais da estrutura sem prejudicar significativamente a flexibilidade; desconsidera-se, portanto, o efeito estrutural do núcleo electro-óptico e das camadas polimérica interna e externa. Para esta finalidade são consideradas as tensões originadas pelos carregamentos das ondas do mar atuantes no cabo umbilical durante sua vida em serviço (plataforma semi-submersível GVA 4500 que opera na Bacia de Campos numa lâmina d água de 1000 m), assim como a geometria e as propriedades mecânicas das armaduras de tração utilizadas nos umbilicais dessas plataformas. Através da formulação de um modelo do cabo umbilical feito pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos determinou-se o histórico de tensões atuantes na estrutura, foram estimadas as funções de densidade de probabilidade da tensão estática e da tensão alternada corrigida para curto e longo prazo, as quais caracterizam o carregamento atuante provocado pelas ondas do mar. A caracterização do material é alcançada através de análise química e ensaios de tração. Finalmente, a metodologia proposta, que considera os mecanismos de falha por escoamento e por fadiga mecânica é implementada na prática. / A model to evaluate the structural reliability of the umbilical cable, taking into accounts the failure mechanism for yield strength and mechanical fatigue is proposed in this work. This analysis is focused on the structural evaluation of the metallic armors, given that these elements almost support the whole tensile load and they limit the axial deformations of the structure without harming the flexibility significantly, therefore, the structural effect of the electro-optical nucleus and the internal and external polymeric layers are not considered. For this purpose, the tensions originated by the loading of the waves of the active sea in the umbilical during its service life are considered (semi-submergible platform GVA 4500 that operates in Bacia de Campos into 1000 meters water depth), as well as the geometry and the mechanical properties of the tensile armors used in the umbilical of this platform. Through the formulation of a model for the umbilical cable, developed by the Finite Elements Method, the sequence of active tensions in the structure was determined and then the functions of density of probability of the static tension and of the alternate tension corrected for short and long period were estimated, which characterize the active loading caused by the waves of the sea. The characterization of the material is achieved through chemical analysis and tensile test. Finally, the proposed methodology, which considers the failure mechanisms by yields and mechanical fatigue is implemented in practice.

O presente trabalho propõe um modelo para avaliar a confiabilidade estrutural do cabo umbilical, levando em consideração os mecanismos de falha por escoamento e por fadiga mecânica. Esta análise é focada na avaliação estrutural das armaduras metálicas, dado que estes elementos suportam quase toda a carga à tração e limitam as deformações axiais da estrutura sem prejudicar significativamente a flexibilidade; desconsidera-se, portanto, o efeito estrutural do núcleo electro-óptico e das camadas polimérica interna e externa. Para esta finalidade são consideradas as tensões originadas pelos carregamentos das ondas do mar atuantes no cabo umbilical durante sua vida em serviço (plataforma semi-submersível GVA 4500 que opera na Bacia de Campos numa lâmina d água de 1000 m), assim como a geometria e as propriedades mecânicas das armaduras de tração utilizadas nos umbilicais dessas plataformas. Através da formulação de um modelo do cabo umbilical feito pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos determinou-se o histórico de tensões atuantes na estrutura, foram estimadas as funções de densidade de probabilidade da tensão estática e da tensão alternada corrigida para curto e longo prazo, as quais caracterizam o carregamento atuante provocado pelas ondas do mar. A caracterização do material é alcançada através de análise química e ensaios de tração. Finalmente, a metodologia proposta, que considera os mecanismos de falha por escoamento e por fadiga mecânica é implementada na prática. / A model to evaluate the structural reliability of the umbilical cable, taking into accounts the failure mechanism for yield strength and mechanical fatigue is proposed in this work. This analysis is focused on the structural evaluation of the metallic armors, given that these elements almost support the whole tensile load and they limit the axial deformations of the structure without harming the flexibility significantly, therefore, the structural effect of the electro-optical nucleus and the internal and external polymeric layers are not considered. For this purpose, the tensions originated by the loading of the waves of the active sea in the umbilical during its service life are considered (semi-submergible platform GVA 4500 that operates in Bacia de Campos into 1000 meters water depth), as well as the geometry and the mechanical properties of the tensile armors used in the umbilical of this platform. Through the formulation of a model for the umbilical cable, developed by the Finite Elements Method, the sequence of active tensions in the structure was determined and then the functions of density of probability of the static tension and of the alternate tension corrected for short and long period were estimated, which characterize the active loading caused by the waves of the sea. The characterization of the material is achieved through chemical analysis and tensile test. Finally, the proposed methodology, which considers the failure mechanisms by yields and mechanical fatigue is implemented in practice.

Achieving light weight armor design has become an important engineering challenge in the last three decades. As weapons becoming highly sophisticated, so does the ammunition, potential targets have to be well protected against such threats. In order to provide mobility, light and effective armor protection materials should be used. In this thesis, numerical simulation of the silicon carbide armor backed by KevlarTM composite and orthogonally impacted by 7.62mm armor piercing (AP) projectile at an initial velocity of 850 m/s is analyzed by using AUTODYN hydrocode. As a first step, ceramic material behavior under impact conditions is validated numerically by comparing the numerical simulation result with the test result which is obtained from the literature. Then, different numerical simulations are performed by changing the backing material thickness, i.e. 2, 4, 6 and 8mm, while the thickness of the ceramic is held constant, i.e. 8mm. At the end of the simulations, optimum ceramic/composite thickness ratio is sought. The results of the simulations showed that for the backing thickness values of 4, 6 and 8mm, the projectile could not perforate the armor system. On the contrary, the projectile could penetrate and perforate the armor system for the backing thickness value of 2mm and it has still some residual velocity. From these results, it is inferred that the optimum ceramic/composite thickness ratio is equal to about 2 for the silicon carbide and kevlar configuration.

Coastal defense structures have primary importance from obtainabilty of resources and benefits served by the coastal regions point of view. However, the construction of coastal defense structures demand a high amount of investment. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of collapse of these structures, model studies should be carried during the design process. In this study, model investigations were carried out on Eastern Black Sea Highway Project regarding the serviceability and damage thus stability parameters. 5 different models were constructed as berm type rubble-mound breakwaters using Van Der Meer&rsquo / s approach and berm design guidelines, with a scale of 1/31.08 and they were tested both for breaking and non-breaking waves. The experiments took place in the Coastal and Harbor Engineering Laboratory of the Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Department. The models were constructed and tested with different berm widths and armor stone sizes forming the back armor layer in order to examine the effect of these design parameters on the stability and serviceability of the coastal defense structure to obtain the optimum alternative cross-section. Cumulative damage was minimum for the cross-section constructed with berm width 15 m assigning the width of the prototype. Water spray and run-up values were also not significant. The test results were confirming with Van Der Meer design approach.