Numerical Study of Ballistic Performance in Level III SiC Ceramic Multilayered UHMWPE Ballistic Plates

This study investigates the ballistic resistance of composite plates composed of a silicon carbide (SiC) strike face and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) layers against 7.62 mm NATO caliber projectiles using Ansys Explicit Dynamics. Five ballistic plate samples were numerically modeled, featuring 40 to 60 UHMWPE layers and a 4 mm SiC strike face. The simulation assessed the plates' response, including backface signature, bullet penetration depth, absorbed kinetic energy, and deformation mechanisms. The findings revealed that increasing the UHMWPE thickness reduces both the backface signature and bullet penetration depth. Plates with 50 to 60 layers of UHMWPE met level III NIJ standards, demonstrating lower backface signatures and bullet penetration compared to those with 40 or 45 layers. Thicker UHMWPE layers were associated with reduced deformation, with the plate featuring 60 layers of UHMWPE and an overall thickness of 25 mm emerging as the optimal configuration for level III ballistic protection.