Damping evaluation of a ballistic foam: from tests to simulations

The perpetual evolution of soldiers light weight armors include now high technology ceramic, composite and polymeric in ballistic vest that are optimized by simulations. Knowledge individual material response the strain, strain rate regime closed to threat stays mandatory thus collecting parameters fit models guarantees reliable numerical investigations. Since 2015, THIOT INGENIERIE Shock Physics Laboratory has been selected French Defence procurement agency DGA-Land Systems perform materials characterization three main families [1-2]. A coupled approach between laboratory experiments simulations shown its relevance with ceramic an Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE). This paper presents succinctly last part those experimental investigations on a foam is implemented soldier’s chest [3]. behavior under dynamic loading first evaluated using Split Hokinson Pressure Bars (SHPB) up 5000s -1 . Ballistic tests have performed second time Digital Image Correlation (DIC) ultrahigh speed cameras at back target plate evaluate damping behavior. Numerical progress results promising.