INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENT GLASS AND ALUMINIUM ALLOY LAYERS FOR FRAGMENT MITIGATION

Abstract

A series of fragment-simulating projectile trials has been conducted to investigate the performance of various glass and aluminium alloy targets as fragment mitigation barriers. Steel 304L rods were fired into layers of the material at velocities between 700 – 2000 m.s-1 using a powder-propellant launcher. Soda lime glass, toughened soda lime glass, laminated soda lime glass and borosilicate glass were tested to rank the ability of the different glass types to mitigate the projectiles. Three aluminium alloy grades, 5083-O, 6061-T6 and 7075-T6, were then tested to investigate projectile penetration depth with increasing alloy strength. Lastly, the 7075 alloy was tested in both -T6 and -T7 temper designations to compare the failure mechanisms of the alloy in these two heat treatments. Supporting Lagrangian simulations of the firings were also undertaken in Ansys Autodyn.