The effect of stacking sequence of ceramic armors and use of thin preliminary layer on ballistic performance in multilayered ceramic/composite armor systems

Regardless of whether tactical wheeled or tracked, the most important system of armored land vehicles is the armor system. It is essential to use an optimum armor design that will not both lose the maneuverability and threaten personnel safety. One of the prerequisites for usability is to produce a cost-effective solution in armor systems. Ceramic and/or composite armors have been used instead of solid and thick aluminum or steel armors in order to stop these ballistic threats, which have developed due to the greater development of projectile and firearm technologies compared to armor technology, especially in recent years. With this beginning, various multi-layer armor system configurations were created and validated according to STANAG 4569. However various researches have been carried out and continue to be carried out, especially in the 21st century, about arranging these configurations with optimum cost and areal density by changing various parameters. In this study, the effect of the arrangement of the ceramic armor layers on the ballistic performance in a multi-layer armor system with STANAG 4569 Level-3 protection level was analyzed. In addition, it has been evaluated to what extent the preliminary front layer used in armor systems will affect the ballistic performance in order to protect the ceramic armor layers from external factors. At the same time, both experimental studies were compared with analytical models and the armor configuration with the optimum areal density was tried to be obtained with both tests and analysis models, provided that the same ballistic protection level was maintained.