FAILURE OF CERAMIC FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC COMPOSITES UNDER HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT LOADING/

The hypervelocity impact limit, V-50, of alumina/fibre-reinforced plas tic (FRP) target materials was studied with different adhesive layer t hicknesses and two kinds of FRP. A high-speed camera was used to analy se the perforation phenomena of target materials. In addition, the dis hing and bulging extent of FRP as a rear material were investigated us ing a digital planimeter from a series of high-speed photographs durin g the perforation of a projectile. In the case of the same adhesive la yer thickness, the target material with more ductile FRP (A type) abso rbed more impact energy than that with less ductile FRP (B type). In b oth target materials, the highest V-50 was obtained at an adhesive lay er thickness of 1.3 mm.