Effect of adhesive layer performance on the impact of brittle projectile on B4C ceramic composite armor

This paper uses experimental and numerical methods to explore the relationship between the strength, thickness, and failure modes of the adhesive layer and the ballistic performance of ceramic/metal composite armor. Damage of the adhesive layer under dynamic impact was modeled using the ABAQUS and the cohesive zone modeling approach, and analyzing the dynamic responses of the projectile, ceramic, and backplate. The results show that as the bonding strength of the adhesive increases, the extent of projectile fracture damage generally increases, enhancing the overall ballistic performance of the composite armor. However, the final protective performance is also influenced by the evolution of projectile damage. When the thickness of the adhesive increases, the ballistic efficiency of the ceramic initially increases and then decreases. This is due to the thicker adhesive layer extending the projectile’s dwell time while excessive thickness causes premature failure of the ceramic. Additionally, the adhesive mainly undergoes shear failure near the impact point, with the damage extending outward in a circular pattern. When the proportion of tensile failure in the adhesive layer is higher, the composite armor exhibits better ballistic performance. For the impact of a T12A steel projectile, the optimal adhesive strength and thickness for better ballistic performance are respectively 80 MPa and 0.8 mm.