Resistance of Steel–Elastomer Laminate Armors to Impacts of Small–Caliber Projectiles

Abstract

Monolithic, homogenous ballistic shields consisting of a single thick, high-hardness and high-strength steel plate are rarely applied in modern combat vehicles. Nowadays, multilayered laminates are a popular armor solution due to which the threat kinetic energy is dissipated by a complementary performance of components with different material properties. Searching for a maximum ballistic protection results in applications of various materials assembled together to provide an improved protective efficiency without excessive mass. The presented experimental investigation focuses on a steel–elastomer armor concept and aims to verify the influence of the elastomeric interlayer on the behavior of the laminated shield under impacts of small–caliber 7.62×54 R API B32 projectiles.