Investigation of ceramic particles and fibre reinforced functionally graded metal matrix composites for blast and ballistic armour protection

自2001年9月11日以来，主要的安全担忧从强大的敌军威胁转变为灵活的小型武装团体的威胁。这导致装甲研究转向更轻、更机动和更多功能的系统。像钢这样的传统材料很重，通常会因绝热剪切带的形成而失效。此外，当前的层压设计由连接到更具延展性的背板上的硬威胁抵御前板组成，通常会在接口处产生沉重的系统和阻抗效应。因此，本研究的目标是研究功能梯度陶瓷颗粒和纤维增强金属基复合材料。在这些功能梯度复合材料中，从正面到背面，硬度和强度逐渐降低，而塑性和韧性逐渐增加。众所周知，纤维可以增加陶瓷的韧性，因此假设纤维也可以提高陶瓷-金属复合材料的韧性，而陶瓷-金属复合材料通常表现出相对较低的韧性。在拟议的功能梯度设计中，陶瓷颗粒和纤维的体积分数和尺寸将从正面到背面有所不同。将研究颗粒和纤维的类型、大小和分布的影响。我们首先将重点放在实验室规模的样品生产上，使用挤压铸造和粉末冶金。测试将包括压缩、拉伸、扭转、弯曲、夏比冲击以及霍普金森压缩和扭杆测试。碰撞事件将使用有限元方法(ABAQUS)和无网格模拟进行建模。在项目后期，将与国家研究委员会(NRC)和加拿大国防研究发展局(DRDC)合作进行弹道测试。这项工作的主要创新点是将纳米陶瓷颗粒与碳纤维增强相结合，应用于功能级材料中。这项工作将有助于提高对装甲在爆炸和弹道撞击事件中的变形、剪切带形成和破坏机理的理解。它将有助于改进装甲材料，并有助于改善加拿大国内外社会和军事人员的安全。

The major security concern shifted from the threat of powerful enemy armies to that of agile small armed groups since September 11, 2001. This led to a shift in armour research towards more lightweight, mobile and versatile systems. Conventional materials such as steels are heavy and often fail by adiabatic shear band formation. Also, the current laminate design made of a hard threat defeating front plate attached to a more ductile backing plate generally results in heavy systems and impedance effects at interfaces. Therefore, the objective of the proposed research is to investigate functionally graded ceramic-particles and fibre reinforced metal matrix composites. In these functionally graded composites, hardness and strength gradually decrease while ductility and toughness gradually increase from the front impact face to the back face. As fibres are known to increase the toughness of ceramics, it is hypothesised that they can also improve the toughness of ceramic-metal composites that usually show relatively low toughness. In the proposed functionally graded design, ceramic particle and fibre volume fraction and size will be varied from the front impact face to the back face. The effects of particle and fibre type, size and distribution will be studied. We will initially focus on laboratory scale sample production using squeeze casting and powder metallurgy. Testing will include compression, tensile, torsion, bending, Charpy impact and Hopkinson compression and torsion bar tests. Impact events will be modelled using finite element method (ABAQUS) and meshless simulation. Later in the project, ballistic tests will be performed in collaboration with National Research Council (NRC) and Defence Research Development Canada (DRDC). The main novelty of this work is the combination of nano-ceramic particle with carbon fibre reinforcement in functionally grade materials. The work will contribute to improving the understanding of deformation, shear band formation and damage mechanisms in armours during blast and ballistic impact events. It will help improve armour materials and contribute to improving security for society and military personnel in Canada and abroad.