The Effects of Projectile Geometry on the Performance of Ballistic Fabrics

Abstract

A ballistic laboratory was designed and built to accommodate the impact of . Kevlar® woven fabric of varying ply levels, while manipulating the geometrical shape, weight, and impact velocity of the projectile. A chronograph system was used to measure the striking and residual velocities of the missile. Empirical relations were determined between the experimental data and the quantity 1/√L, where L is the ogive length of the projectile. This quantity was found to be useful in characterizing projectile geometrical effects on the impact performance of woven fabric systems. The effects of projectile shape on the number of fabric plies, velocity loss data, and thus V50 values are characterized by the empirical relations.