Impact location effects on ballistic performance of checkerboard-formation ceramic sphere armor

Abstract

This study explores the influence of localized impact positions on the ballistic performance of modular ceramic armor systems. Utilizing a previously validated finite element model based on experimental data, simulations were conducted on an armor panel composed of alumina ceramic spheres arranged in a checkerboard configuration. The selected sphere diameter and layout had been previously identified as optimal for energy dissipation in high-velocity projectile impacts. In this extended analysis, the effect of varying projectile impact locations across the ceramic surface was evaluated. Rather than assuming central impacts, the study considered more realistic scenarios where projectiles may strike the edges of ceramic elements, vertical and horizontal locations between them, or the interstitial voids that naturally occur in such configurations. The findings indicate that the location of impact significantly alters the armor’s ability to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy. Certain locations were found to enhance resistance, while others allowed more efficient projectile penetration. These results underscore the importance of incorporating spatial variability into the design of advanced ceramic-based protective structures and highlight the need for optimizing geometric configurations not only by material and layout, but also by accounting for the probabilistic nature of real-world ballistic interactions.