ABSTRACT

Now that we have a firm grounding in some penetration concepts such as limit velocity, we can proceed to discuss various penetration theories. We shall discuss, in some detail, penetration mechanisms in a variety of materials, all of which, to different degrees, serve to protect some vital target. Because these materials behave very differently from one another, they must be treated separately. It is this large difference in behavior, as well as mechanical properties, which makes the selection of a material for ballistic protection an important one. We shall move successively through metals, concrete, soil, ceramic, and composite

armors so that the reader gets a feel for how they behave. In all instances, the day-to-day analysis techniques of these materials are progressing, especially in the areas of numerical methods.