Experimental and Numerical Investigations on the Origins of the Bodywork Effect (K-Effect)

The integration of a high-hardness steel armor plate inside the bodywork of a vehicle may result in a decrease in the overall ballistic resistance. This phenomenon is referred to as the bodywork effect. The effect was examined for a $5.56×45mm$ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ball projectile. Previously reported experimental work has confirmed the numerically based assumption that the bodywork effect was due to the flattening of the tip of the projectile upon perforation of the frontal bodywork plate prior to hitting the integrated armor. The amount of qualitative and quantitative experimental data has now been extended. In order to eliminate the data dispersion observed after perforating the bodywork, an adapted projectile geometry with a truncated nose was fired directly against the armor plate. Ballistic testing also involved firing a soft-core $5.56×45mm$ projectile for which a similar mechanism was observed. A finite element code was used to simulate the impact process for the different types of projectiles. The parameters of the selected strength and failure models were experimentally determined for the high-hardness armor plate. As to the ballistic limit velocity and plugging morphology there is a good correspondence between the experimental and computed results. Nevertheless, an improved failure model is necessary to get satisfactory computed residual projectile velocities.