Analytical and FEM Analyses of High-Speed Impact Behaviour of Al 2024 Alloy

The present work investigates the impact behaviour of Al 2024-T3 alloy using FEM analysis performed through LS DYNA software. Johnson–Cookvisco-plastic model is used to study the ballistic impact resistance of target Al alloy impacted by a rigid steel cylindrical projectile. The tensile properties of Al 2024-T3 alloy reported in the literature are used to estimate the J.C. model parameters. Impact velocities within a range of 50 m/s–900 m/s of the projectile were triggered onto Al alloy target thicknesses in the range of 3.18 mm–6.35 mm. To understand the accuracy of the FEM model, an analytical model proposed by Chen et al. for blunt-nosed projectiles on the ductile targets was used to compare with the obtained residual velocities from FEM simulations. It was observed that the ballistic limit velocities have led to the highest energy absorption behaviour of the Al 2024-T3 alloy for an impact velocity of 183 m/s and a 6.35 mm target thickness. The ballistic limit velocities have increased from 97 m/s to 183 m/s for the considered thickness range of 3.18 mm–6.35 mm. The impact failure was observed to have a petalling formation with two petals for thinner targets, while a full-fledged plugging with no petal formation for the 4.00 mm and 6.35 mm target thicknesses was observed.