Ballistic limit

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The ballistic limit or limit velocity is the velocity required for a particular projectile to reliably (at least 50% of the time) penetrate a particular piece of material. In other words, a given projectile will not pierce a given target when the projectile velocity is lower than the ballistic limit.[1] The term ballistic limit is used specifically in the context of armor; limit velocity is used in other contexts.[1]

The ballistic limit equation for laminates, as derived by Reid and Wen[2] is as follows:

<math>V_b=\frac{\pi\,\Gamma\,\sqrt{\rho_t\,\sigma_e}\,D^2\,T}{4\,m} \left [1+\sqrt{1+\frac{8\,m}{\pi\,\Gamma^2\,\rho_t\,D^2\,T}}\, \right ]</math>
where

  • <math>V_b\,</math> is the ballistic limit
  • <math>\Gamma\,</math> is a projectile constant determined experimentally
  • <math>\rho_t\,</math> is the density of the laminate
  • <math>\sigma_e\,</math> is the static linear elastic compression limit
  • <math>D\,</math> is the diameter of the projectile
  • <math>T\,</math> is the thickness of the laminate
  • <math>m\,</math> is the mass of the projectile

Additionally, the ballistic limit for small-caliber into homogeneous armor by TM5-855-1 is:

<math>V_1= 19.72 \left [ \frac{7800 d^3 \left [ \left ( \frac{e_h}{d} \right) \sec \theta \right ]^{1.6}}{W_T} \right ]^{0.5}</math></br> where

  • <math>V_1</math> is the ballistic limit velocity in fps
  • <math>d</math> is the caliber of the projectile, in inches
  • <math>e_h</math> is the thickness of the homogeneous armor (valid from BHN 360 - 440) in inches
  • <math>\theta</math> is the angle of obliquity
  • <math>W_T</math> is the weight of the projetile, in lbs

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Donald E. Carlucci, Sidney S. Jacobson (2008). Ballistics: Theory and Design of Guns and Ammunition. CRC Press. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-4200-6618-0.
  2. SR Reid, HM Wen. "Perforation of FRP laminates and sandwich panels subjected to missile impact". In: SR Reid, G Zhou, editors. "Impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced composite materials and structures". Cambridge: Woodhead Publishers Ltd. 2000. In: G Reyes Villanueva, WJ Cantwell (2004). "The high velocity impact response of composite and FML-reinforced sandwich structures". Composites Science and Technology 64:35-54. DOI: 10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00197-0.

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