This research aims to compare the ability of smart hydrogel in removing the methylene blue prepared by using two different radiation methods. The extracted pectin from the dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) was used with acrylic acid (AA) to produce a polymerized hydrogel through gamma and microwave radiation. The optimum hydrogel swelling capacity was obtained by varying the dose of radiation, pectin to AA ratio and pH used. From the array of samples, the ideal hydrogel was obtained at pH 8 with a ratio of 2:3 (pectin: AA) using 10 kGy and 400 W radiated gamma and microwave respectively. The performance of both hydrogels namely as Pc/AA(G) (gamma) and Pc/AA(Mw) (microwave) were investigated using methylene blue (MB) adsorption studies. In this study, three variables were manipulated, pH and MB concentration and hydrogel mass in order to find the optimum condition for the adsorption. Results showed that 20 mg of Pc/AA(G) performed the highest MB removal which was about 45% of 20 mg/L MB at pH 8. While 30 mg of Pc/AA(Mw) able to remove up to 35% of 20 mg/L MB at the same pH condition. To describe the adsorption mechanism, both kinetic models pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order were employed. The results from kinetic data showed that it fitted the pseudo-first-order as compared to pseudo-second-order model equation. This study provides alternative of green, facile and affective biomaterial for dye absorbents that readily available.

This paper presents the computational-based ballistic limit of laminated metal panels comprised of high strength steel and aluminium alloy Al7075-T6 plate at different thickness combinations to necessitate the weight reduction of existing armour steel plate. The numerical models of monolithic configuration, double-layered configuration and triple-layered configuration were developed using a commercial explicit finite element code and were impacted by 7.62 mm armour piercing projectile at velocity range of 900 to 950 m/s. The ballistic performance of each configuration plate in terms of ballistic limit velocity, penetration process and permanent deformation was quantified and considered. It was found that the monolithic panel of high-strength steel has the best ballistic performance among all panels, yet it has not caused any weight reduction in existing armour plate. As the weight reduction was increased from 20-30%, the double-layered configuration panels became less resistance to ballistic impact where only at 20% and 23.2% of weight reduction panel could stop the 950m/s projectile. The triple-layered configuration panels with similar areal density performed much better where all panels subjected to 20-30% weight reductions successfully stopped the 950 m/s projectile. Thus, triple-layered configurations are interesting option in designing a protective structure without sacrificing the performance in achieving weight reduction.

This paper presents a 14DOF full vehicle model which consists of ride, handling and tire subsystems to study vehicle dynamics behavior. The full vehicle model is then verified with well-known vehicle dynamics software namely CarSimEd based on the driver input from the steering wheel. Three types of vehicle dynamics test are performed for the purpose of model verification namely step steer test, double lane change test and slalom test. The results of model verification show that the behaviors of the model closely follow the behaviors obtained from CarSimEd software with acceptable error.

This paper presents the effect of laminated aluminium-steel panel with different configurations in a high-speed impact test. Layering aluminium plate with high strength steel has become an interest in reducing the overall density of armour vehicle body while improving the ballistic resistance. Different layering configurations differ in laminated panel performance. Two layering configurations of double-layered panel achieving 25% of existing panel weight reduction were tested using experiment and computational method to investigate their behaviours when impacted with 7.62-mm full metal jacket at velocity range of 800–850 m/s. The ballistic performance of each configuration plate in terms of ballistic limit velocity, penetration process and permanent deformation was quantified and considered. Laminated panel with aluminium as the front layer reduced the ballistic performance of existing panel to 50% and the other panel maintained its performance. Thus, the laminated panel with aluminium as the back layer can be used in designing a protective structure for armoured vehicle while maintaining the performance of the existing vehicle in achieving weight reduction.

The association of the failure behavior of the AZ31B magnesium alloy with absorption energy under ballistic impact condition was investigated in this study, as well as the effect of varying percentages of added lead (Pb) content. The compositions of Pb in AZ31B were 1%, 5%, and 10% by percentage weight of Pb. Two types of projectile were used to compare the experimental and simulation results. Ballistic testing on a magnesium alloy plate was performed at the velocity of 435 m/s for the 9 mm×19 mm Parabellum projectile and 976 m/s for the 5.56 mm×45 mm NATO projectile. Simulation was performed using the Johnson–Cook model to determine the maximum stress that the material can withstand. Deformation and failure occurred in the ballistic simulation when the different projectiles were used. In the 9 mm×19 mm Parabellum projectile, no penetration was observed in the magnesium alloy, whereas in the 5.56 mm×45 mm NATO projectile, complete penetration was observed throughout the thickness of the alloy. The addition of Pb on AZ31B affected the absorption energy, and the addition of 1% Pb produced the most suitable absorption energy for further analysis.