Experimental investigation of high-strength ship steel plate protection against reactive fragment impact

Objectives This paper investigates the failure mechanism and protective performance differences of 10 mm thick high-strength ship steel when it is subjected to penetration-deflagration by reactive and inert fragments respectively.

Methods A 12.7 mm caliber ballistic gun is used to shoot cylindrical fragments at high-strength ship steel. Reactive composite fragments and inert steel fragments with a similar density and quality interact with the high-strength steel target. The fragment damage mechanisms, target failure modes and energy absorption and release characteristics are then compared, and naval standard ballistic limits V₅₀ for the ship steel target are obtained under different fragment damage conditions.

Results  The ballistic limits V₅₀ of the ship steel target against inert and reactive fragments are 807 m/s and 874 m/s respectively. The perforation ability under reactive fragments is superior to that under inert fragments, but its expansion ability under reactive fragments is inferior to that under inert fragments. The impact process of reactive fragments is accompanied by strong firelight coverage, and their total penetration-deflagration energy is higher than the single penetration kinetic energy of inert fragments.

Conclusion The experimental results of this study can provide data support and guidance for the design of ship protective structures and the application of active damage technology.