This study describes a simple, practical, inexpensive, improved, and efficient novel method for obtaining polyurea-polyurethane-multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties, and their experimental testing in a dynamic regime. SEM and micro-CT investigations validated the homogeneity of the nanocomposite films and uniform dispersion of the nanofiller inside the polymeric matrix. The experimental measurements (TGA, DSC, DMA, and tensile tests) revealed improved thermal and mechanical properties of these new materials. To demonstrate that these nanocomposites are suitable for ballistic protection, impact tests were performed on aluminum plates coated with the polyurea-polyurethane MWCNTs nanocomposites, using a Hopkinson bar set-up. The experimental testing in the dynamic regime of the polyurea- polyurethane-coated aluminum plates confirmed that the nanocomposite layers allow the metal plate to maintain its integrity at a maximum force value that is almost 200% higher than for the uncoated metallic specimens.

Young’s modulus is a key parameter of materials. The method of its calculation in the current paper is concerned with the mismatch of the mechanical impedance at the bar/specimen interface for a compression SHPB (split Hopkinson pressure bar) test. By using long and thin specimens, the signal recorded in the transmission bar presents itself as a multistep signal. The ratio between the heights of two successive steps represents the experimental data that are considered in the formula of the elastic modulus this article is devoted to. The oscillatory nature of the real signals on the horizontal or quasi-horizontal segments prevents a precise determination of the two successive step heights ratio. A fine tuning of this value is made based on the characteristic time necessary for the signal to rise from one level to the next one. The FEM (Finite Element Method) simulations are also used in calculation of the Poisson coefficient of the tested complex concentrated alloy.

This theoretical study analyzes the possibility to use the classical Mott’s hypothesis to model the natural fragmentation of cylindrical structures with two or more metal cylinders arranged coaxially. A critical analysis on the validity of the used hypothesis was conducted based on empirical relations and numerical simulations. The established algorithm allows the determination of a fragment mass scale parameter for each individual cylinder, which is why the cumulative distribution of fragments for the entire structure may be calculated. The results obtained for the structures with two and three cylinders, with equal masses or equal wall thicknesses, can be approximated using a modified Mott’s distribution formula in which the number of cylinders is used as an additional parameter.

Ballistic targets are multi-material assemblies that can be made of various materials, such as metal alloys, ceramics, and polymers. Their role is to provide collective or individual ballistic protection against high-speed dynamic penetrators or kinetic fragments. The paper presents the impact behavior with incendiary perforating bullets having 7.62 mm of ballistic packages made of combinations between Dyneema ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and high entropy alloy from alloying system AlCoCrFeNi, by analyzing the dynamic phenomena (deformation, perforation) that take place at high speeds. The geometry evolution of the physical model subjected to numerical simulation allows a very good control over the discretization network and also allows the export for modeling to nonlinear transient phenomena. The results obtained by numerical simulation showed that the analyzed ballistic package does not allow sufficient protection for values of impact velocities over 500 m/sec.

Based on the analysis of existing collective shockwave protection methods worldwide, this paper addresses the mitigation of shock waves by means of passive methods, namely the use of perforated plates. Employing specialized software for numerical analysis, such as ANSYS-AUTODYN 2022R1^®, the interaction of shock waves with a protection structure has been studied. By using this cost-free approach, several configurations with different opening ratios were investigated, pointing out the peculiarities of the real phenomenon. The FEM-based numerical model was calibrated by employing live explosive tests. The experimental assessments were performed for two configurations, with and without a perforated plate. The numerical results were expressed in terms of force acting on an armor plate placed behind a perforated plate at a relevant distance for ballistic protection in engineering applications. By investigating the force/impulse acting on a witness plate instead of the pressure measured at a single point, a realistic scenario can be considered. For the total impulse attenuation factor, the numerical results suggest a power law dependence, with the opening ratio as a variable.