A model for predicting penetration and perforation of FRP laminates by 3-D impactors

A model is proposed for describing the penetration of a monolithic semi-infinite and finite FRP laminates struck transversely by a rigid projectile with an arbitrary 3-D shape. Relationships for calculating the characteristics of penetration and perforation (ballistic limit velocity, depth of penetration, etc.) are derived. It is showed that some typical problems of optimization of the shape of the impactor for finite-thickness and semi-infinite shield can be reduced to the same variational problem. An advantage of a 3-D conical impactors over conical impactors having the shape of body of revolution is predicted using the suggested model.