Dynamic Behavior of Aluminum Plates Subjected to Sequential Fragment Impact and Blast Loading: An Experimental Study

This paper presents a study on the dynamic behavior of thin aluminum plates subjected to consecutive fragment impact and blast loading. To this end, two separate experimental setups are used. In the first setup, 2 mm thick aluminum plates (Formula presented.) - (Formula presented.) - (Formula presented.) - (Formula presented.) were subjected to the ballistic impact of fragment-simulating projectiles (FSPs). Experiments were carried out for FSP calibers of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm considering both single impact and triple impacts with variations in the spacing of the impact locations. The out-of-plane displacement and in-plane strain fields were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) coupled to a pair of high-speed cameras in a stereoscopic setup. In the second setup, a subsequent blast loading was applied to the perforated plates using an explosive-driven shock tube (EDST). After the plates are perforated, the strain field around the holes depended on the caliber, the impact orientation of the FSP, and the distance between the impact locations. When the blast loading was applied, cracks tended to appear in areas of strain concentration between the perforated holes. It was found that the relative distance between the holes significantly influences the target’s response mode.