LABORATORY TESTING PROCEDURES FOR CHARACTERIZING THE ARMOR MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES DUE TO BLAST LOADING

Based on a piston-assisted shock tube, this proposed program is aimed to establish a controllable (for safety) and repeatable (for standard testing) laboratory based blast testing facility and to formulate standard blast testing procedures for lightweight armor materials. The ultimate goals of this program are (1) to establish a laboratory based blast testing technique and standard testing procedures for blast simulations, (2) to compile a database including force-deflection curves and damage modes of lightweight materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers and composites for lightweight armor designs, (3) to certify lightweight armor structures with computer simulation and testing validation and (4) to commercialize the testing facility, testing service and lightweight armor material and structure designs. Both computational fluid dynamic and finite element analysis are required for this proposed program. In formulating the standard testing procedures, optimal specimen geometry and dimensions, blast loading technique, and specimen fixture and loading condition need to be carefully investigated. In view of the ultra-high pressure and very short time duration involved in blast testing, the recording of the testing parameters, such as pressure, and the measurement of testing specimens, such as deformation, are also critically important to the success of the blast testing.