The Anti-Penetration Performance and Mechanism of Metal Materials: A Review

This article reviews the anti-penetration principles and strengthening mechanisms of metal materials, ranging from macroscopic failure modes to microscopic structural characteristics, and further summarizes the micro–macro correlation in the anti-penetration process. Finally, it outlines the constitutive models and numerical simulation studies utilized in the field of impact and penetration. From the macro perspective, nine frequent penetration failure modes of metal materials are summarized, with a focus on the analysis of the cratering, compression shear, penetration, and plugging stages of the penetration process. The reasons for the formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) in metal materials with different crystal structures are elaborated, and the formation mechanism of the equiaxed grains in the ASB is explored. Both the strength and the toughness of metal materials are related to the materials’ crystal structures and microstructures. The toughness is mainly influenced by the deformation mechanism, while the strength is explained by the strengthening mechanism. Therefore, the mechanical properties of metal materials depend on their microstructures, which are subject to the manufacturing process and material composition. Regarding numerical simulation, the advantages and disadvantages of different constitutive models and simulation methods are summarized based on the application characteristics of metal materials in high-speed penetration practice. In summary, this article provides a systematic overview of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of metal materials, along with their mechanisms and correlation during the anti-penetration and impact-resistance processes, thereby making an important contribution to the scientific understanding of anti-penetration performance and its optimization in metal materials.