16TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS

A Study of Ceramic Composite Materials for Bullet-proof

Optimization by Using Taguchi Method
*Y.L.Chen, *C.K.Chu, *W.Y.Chuang, **S.H.Lee, ***K.C.Lee
*Department of System Engineer, National Defense University, Chung Cheng Institute of
Technology ,**Hocheng Co. ,***Department of Textile Engineering, Chinese Culture University
Keywords: Taguchi Method, Kevlar composite materials, controllable factors, orthogonal array

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the
ballistic resistance capability of ceramic and Kevlar
composite materials by using Taguchi method.
Orthogonal array is adopted to organize the
experiment, and then signal to noise ratio (S/N)
analysis is used to realize the controllable factors
effect to ballistic resistance. The contribution of
each controllable factor is estimated by variance
analysis (ANOVA).
The controllable factors considered in this
paper include thickness ratio of ceramic to Kevlar,
size of ceramic, and proportion of zr o2 added. Each
factor consists two levels, therefore L8(23) of
orthogonal array is chosen to build 8 different level
testing samples. Smaller-the-better characteristic is
adopted because residue velocity is obtained from
the test.
Following the analysis procedure, the optimal
combination of the chosen factors is then obtained.
The study find that zr o2 to add too much and
reduce capability of ballistics, this ceramics : So the
zr o2 5% of and Ceramic/Kevlar thickness ratio is
2:1,the ceramic panel size is 10cm 10cm.

1 Introduction
Tanks and armour tactics have undergone
many generations of evolution over nearly a century.
Although weapons systems and armour continue to
be developed, many nations have reconsidered the
need for such heavy weaponry in a period
characterized. Ceramics composite materials are
widely used in tank because of their high bulletproof
performance. The utilization of composite materials
armour in certain ballistic applications is
increasingly preferred over conventional rigid metal
armour systems because of its superior strength-toweight ratio. The tank had hitting vertical face about
40% & 37% front face. So, the tank focal point

should be protected in the vehicle and front face.,

Therefore, the tanks increase their protective
capacities in the countries. After hitting, the armor
can't be punctured. Therefore, various countries
competitively study in protecting technology to
protect strength armouredly.
It is a complex but quite interesting to study
the ballistic penetration and perforation of fabrics.
Armors, Cunniff [1], published concise surveys of
the analytical models of penetration of projectiles
into fabrics materials, which covered the major
works that had been published. There are bulletproof
plate, ceramic and fabrics composite materials to
make the level III bulletproof plates in the world.
However, the price of level IV plates bulletproof and
prevents the special bullet attacking is too expensive.
So, level IV plates needs high strong ceramics to
make the cost lower
S. S. Morye, P.J. Hine, R.A. Duckett, D.J. Carr,
and I. M. Ward proposed a model for the analysis of
energy absorption by Polymer composite materials
when impact by a projectile[2]. According to them,
the energy absorption by the composite material
under impact was classified into three models,
respectively, Model 1 related to energy absorption
when the composite material is destroyed due to
tension; Model 2, the energy absorption of plasticity
deformation under impact; and Model 3, the kinetic
energy required for the conic deformation movement
of the composite material under impact.
Experimental and model calculations found out that
the energy under impact was essentially consumed
in Model 3. However, the model ignored the delamination factor and assumed that the destruction
behavior of all the composite materials under impact
must be evenly distributed. Even though such
assumption might be a simple and fundamental
model, it showed another direction for the study of
the complicate destruction patterns of the composite
materials.
The Ceramic to make passivation of bullet
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Yu-Liang,Chen, C.K.Chu ,W.Y.Chuang, S.H. Lee,K.C.Lee

shell and stop advancing function, has reduced the

bullet performance of penetration. If ceramic appear
interface destroy, crackle and is it come back stress
destruction, that loses and resists the performance of
bullet-proof. In order to prevent this situation, need
paying attention to bond resin, strength of ceramic,
size, thick and resistance of stress wave3.
During the impact on ceramic have the result
of the projectile damage or destruction, causing a
decrease of penetration. On the border of the
ceramic this damage occurs as cracks growth and the
returning stress wave will decreases the performance
of bullet-proof. During the study of the performance
of ceramic, in order to prevent cracks growth and the
returning stress wave on the ceramic during the
impact , the ceramic dimension, thickness, bound
form, and the ceramic amounts of resin material,
ceramic
Back
Strength
Wave
Resistance
Performance Received special attention
As Impact of a projectile on Ceramics
parameters in the part of designing the parameters
there is not quite complete data with the theoretical
basis, so we used experiments test to understand the
behavior of the ceramic under ballistic experiments.
Still have access to all kinds of experiments
parameters affect the result, often experimental are
too many, time-consuming materials, in order to find
the importance of the parameters and effects arising
from the interaction is a systematic manner. So this
study using the Taguchi method to reduce the
number of experiments. Cost premise, testing
experimental parameters related to the Resistance.
Taguchi Method when a single material can
not meet the needs, Combining two or more kinds of
materials made of composite materials, can be
overcome in the use of a single material
performance gradually becoming a new trend of
composite material. Through the composition of
various materials matching not only changed the
properties of a single, even be able to develop a
good performance in order to achieve mutual
materials matching the purpose of upgrading its use
and economic value. In bullet-proof composite
materials need to become part of the human and
material resources to study . Impact of proyectile
have many parameters to study, in addition to
individual factors, also exist interaction between the
parameters making the analysis more complex,
Therefore, the use of Taguchi method to clarify the
interaction between the factors and look for the best
combination of parameters increase the reliability of
this study
Steps of Tauchi Method :The parameters that

influence the ceramic composite material behavior

under ballistic impact are: composite of the ceramic,
Thickness, type of resin, fiber types are too many,
we must spend lots of time with the research and
development costs to study. To solve this problem,
this paper used the Taguchi method to improve the
quality of engineering, the experimental steps
outlined below:
(1)Material selection: According to the source
material's availability and quality.
(2)Control factors selection: Basically three
choices controllable factor, to predicted its
quality characteristics under impact. Each factor
have 2~3 levels.
(3) Recognizing the quality characteristics and the
loss function.
(4)Selecting the appropriate orthogonal array for
design experiments, and execute the impact test
(5)Formulate the data for the signal to noise ratio,
quality characteristics and ANOVA analysis to
find the best combination of factors.
(6)Making the best specimen combination testing
to verify the best combination results.
2The Experment
2.1Materials
The ceramic material for impact test: the
production process is base on 99.99% of Alumina
powder(Al2O3) and zirconium powder(ZrO2).In this
paper the arrange of this materials are with the
weight ratio of 50% Alumina and 15%zirconia, Will
be required for the content of zirconium to the
alumina powder, remove high-temperature bonding
agent, the mixture of organic matter, increase the
intensity of the embryo, the final add sintering
furnace sintering products
Al2O3 (Aluminium oxide), The powder size is
0.01mm into oxide to clay, then sintering ceramic,
size is 100100mm.So far, Aramid high efficiency
ballistic fibers are popular. In this study, Aramid
fiber pre-impregnating fabric produced by Kevlar
(Series No. K 735), using DuPont Kevlar
filament ; epoxy, PVB(Thermosetting Polyvinyl
Butyral 555g/m2, 12%); aramid fiber,1680
dtex/f1000; type K 735Weave Style: Basket 2x2
Fabric Weight :510 (g/m2, single side film coated
prepreg, basis weight= 5105 g/m2. One advantage
about Aramid prepreg is that analysis results are not
affected by changed containment of epoxy since
epoxy containment in Aramid prepreg is consistent.
2.2 Test and Research
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A Study of Ceramic Composite Materials for Bullet-proof Optimization by Using Taguchi Method

Extent of previous section by the use of the

Taguchi method as a basis for planning experiments
will avoid problems respect a limited cost,
experimental short-period restrictions. Taguchi
Method the analysis help is used as a tool for
statistical analysis to choose the best process
parameters and get the best combination composite

10.8g FMJ bullet, after the bullet impact the target

plateFig 1~ Fig 3, the kinetic energy of surplus
is kicked into in following materials, checks bullet
velocity and into depth of materials layer, it finds
target materials ration and processes to appraise the
ballistic performance. Because of the bullet impact
plate, the back material was sunken depth in by the
impact. The data can differentiate bulletproof
performance of sample, as shown in Fig. 8& Fig.9
2.3 Experiment Photographs and illustrations
Velocity Count

Velocity Count
Speciment

.30
Barrel

Holding

Fig. 1 85%/15% ceramic plate

200 cm
200 cm

100cm

100cm

100cm

Fig.4. Test range configuration

Fig.2. 95%/5% ceramic plate

Fig.5. The specimens and mounting frame

Fig. 3 ceramic/Kevlar specimen8 mm /4 mm

This research Al2O3ceramic collocation kevlar
fabrics FRP to contrast proportion and difference.
The test method to use DORP(Depth of Residual
Pentration ) model, The DORP(Depth of Residual
Pentration ) mode will measuring materials play the
ceramic plate in rear materials after impact target,
then with the regular speed shooting of 7.62mm

The test standard according to MIL-STD-662F

5 ,as shown in Fig.4,and Fig.5 as mounting
frame. Although the table under orthogonal array
from testing order, the ceramic composite bulletproof tests test data available for follow-up signal to
noise ratio, quality characteristics and ANOVA
analysis, to obtain the S/N response figure, the
quality response characteristics table, , control
factors and the contribution rate table, in order to
determine the best selection factor, and the
experimental validation.
3.Result and discussing
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Yu-Liang,Chen, C.K.Chu ,W.Y.Chuang, S.H. Lee,K.C.Lee

3.1 orthogonal arrays of experiments

The study with the least number of experimental
test and desired process parameter setting has been
developed.
An orthogonal array of experiments with the
L8( 2 7 ) of experimental test and desired process
parameter setting has been developed. The
experiments data to analyze.

3.1.1 The-Larger-the Better

Through Taguchi method and analysis of
variance, ANOVA, the ballistic limits V50
parameters are bigger the better, but , ceramics are
brittleness materials. So Find the V50 is degree of
difficult and error, The paper use Total Absorb
EnergyTAEto compute that y, So y Quality
characterare most bigger the better.

3.1.2 Impact behavior phenomena

Evaluate bulletproof material judge the ability of
many species, from the target impact can be
understand its resistance characteristics , Fig.6 4
mm ceramic thickness (95% alumina and zirconia
5%), Fig.7 4mm ceramic 85% alumina and zirconia
15%). Comparing the two figures can be seen
broken ceramic Fig. 5.8 the broken ceramic have
relatively narrow scope, Also known by Table 5.4 in
5% zirconia ceramic composite have a better energy
absorption. So better energy absorption of the
ceramic material greater the destruction of the
ceramic.

Fig.7 4mm thickness ceramic (Alumina 15%)

The impact capability of a 5cmx5cm ceramic
composite and a single 10cmx10cm ceramic
composite id different because there is no way to
transmit energy, as shown in Fig.8 5cmx5cm in the
upper right-hand corner of the piece of ceramic is
intact, as shown in Fig.9 5cmx5cm back side,
confirm that the energy did not pass on these part,
and results that tightness interface is also very
important factor

Fig,8 5x5ceramic composite Sample test

Fig.6 4mm thickness ceramic plane (5% zr o2 )

Fig.9 5cmx5cm sample back

A Study of Ceramic Composite Materials for Bullet-proof Optimization by Using Taguchi Method

3.2 Experimental data and factor arrangement

80.000

L8( 2 7 ) orthogonal array is used for the

arrangement of test , this test are at random order.
The residual data for ballistic testing, are shown in
Table 1 .The velocity units are (m/sec),the initial
velocity and terminal velocity can be measure by
1
F = MV 2 to find the energy absorption where

78.000

M=10.8 g is the bullet weight the results are

described in the table 2

66.000

76.000
74.000

70.000
68.000

64.000
B1

Table 1 Orthogonal experimental data table

Input
V(1)
810

Output
V (1)
526

Input
V(2)
861

output
V (2)
722

5X5Z5C4K8

761

650

810

659

76.000

10X10Z15C4K8

775

634

836

677

74.000

5X5Z15C4K8

825

716

824

675

72.000

10X10Z5C8K4

846

346

857

366

70.000

5X5Z5C8K4

852

561

831

442

68.000

10X10Z15C8K4

815

375

853

338

66.000

5X5Z15C8K4

780

560

817

465

64.000

80.000

78.000

Sample
No.

AB

reduce energy

ABC D
B

CC

y1i

y 2i

Yi

1 1 1 2 2 2 2 837.922 1186.732 1012.327

10X10Z15C4K8 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1062.879 1287.033 1174.956

5X5Z15C4K8 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 898.634 1194.928 1046.781
10X10Z5C8K4 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3188.600 3212.638 3200.619
5X5Z5C8K4

A2

Fig.11 AxC interaction describe

77.000

10X10Z5C4K8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2029.918 1177.198 1603.558

5X5Z5C4K8

C1
C2

A1

Table 2 Experiment dispose and energy calculate

A

B2

Fig.10 AxB interaction describe

Velocity M/S
Sample No.
10X10Z5C4K8

Sample dispose

A1
A2

72.000

2 1 2 2 1 2 1 2199.829 2649.304 2424.567

10X10Z15C8K4 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 2801.260 3281.503 3041.381

76.000

75.000

74.000
B1
B2
73.000

72.000

71.000

70.000
C1

C2

Fig.12 BxC interaction describe

5X5Z15C8K4 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1577.180 2414.262 1995.721

On the table for the energy unit are Joules, Yi

Defined as the average energy absorption, D as
error.

Fig.13 BxA interaction describe

Yu-Liang,Chen, C.K.Chu ,W.Y.Chuang, S.H. Lee,K.C.Lee

Table 3 orthogonal arrays S/N specific value

Sample dispose
A

SNi
(db)

10X10Z5C4K8

73.133

5X5Z5C4K8

69.137

10X10Z15C4K8

70.431

5X5Z15C4K8

69.428

10X10Z5C8K4

79.136

5X5Z5C8K4

76.724

10X10Z15C8K4

78.692

5X5Z15C8K4

75.033

Sample No.

Fig.14 CxA interaction describe

78.000
77.000
76.000
75.000
74.000
73.000
72.000
71.000

Fig.15 CxB interaction describe

70.000
A1

A2

From the fig. 10 the larger the better analysis of

the data can find the S/N ratio describe on table
3.Using the table 3 we find the response ratio in
table 4 .
Table 4 signal to noise ratio table show the
response control factor on ceramic composite
materials under ballistic impact in the following
order: Factor A > Factor C > Factor B.
Table 4 can be drawn the signal to noise ratioresponse. Because the use the large the better
analysis the table 4 (a standard baseline values), or
Fig.16 map, shows the best combination of
parameters, that are: A2, B1, C1 factor levels, on
behalf of its significance as follows:
A2ceramic and Kevlar thickness ratio 2:1(ceramic
is 8mmkevlar is 4mm)
B1 95% alumina and 5% Zirconia
C110cmx10cm ceramic

B2 (AB)1 (AB)2 C1

C2 (AC)1 (AC)2 (BC)1 (BC)2 D1

D2

Fig.16 S/N rate response table

From the Table 3 we can have the A factor and

B factor interaction describe in the Fig. 10-15
3.3 S/N response table

B1

Table 4 S/N response

control factors
A

level

70.532 74.532 73.999 75.348 73.830 74.182 74.494

77.396 73.396 73.930 72.580 74.098 73.746 73.434

Max-Min

6.864 1.136 0.069 2.768 0.268 0.436 1.060

Rank

From table 4 S/N we get the S/N average

( m )=73.964 Decibels (db)
3.4Response of Control factors under ballistic
impact
The papers the control factors are ceramic and
Kevlar thickness ratio, amount of zirconium oxide,
Ceramic combination, these factor will be analyze
by the S/N ratio and ANOVA analysis, to
understand the factors response and its contribution
factor on the behavior under ballistic impact. As
shown Fig. 17 are Predicted data & confirmation run
data confidence intervals . The Fig. 18 details this
response.
6

A Study of Ceramic Composite Materials for Bullet-proof Optimization by Using Taguchi Method

References

Fig.17 Predicted data & confirmation run data

confidence intervals

[1] Cunniff PM. An analysis of the system effects in

woven fabrics under ballistic impact, Textile Res.
J.vel.62,9,pp 495-509, 1992
[2] Morye, S. S., Hine, P.J., Duckett, R. A., Carr, D.J.,
Ward, I. M. Modelling of the Energy Absorption by
Polymer Composites upon Ballistic Impact,
Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 60, 12,pp
2631-2642,2000
[3] YANG Chao; CHEN JiongResearch on bullet-proof
performance
of
aluminium/ceramic
particles
composite materials ,Institute of China Ordnance
Industries, Vol.23, 1,pp8-10,2003
[4] Sugimoto S., Fukuda H. and Katayama T. The title
of the conference paper. Proceedings of Conference
Title, where it took place, Vol. 1, paper number, pp 111, 2004.
[5] Department of Defense. MILSTD662F, DoD Test
Method Standard, V50 Ballistic Test for Armor. 1997.

Fig.18 Controllable factors& contribution rate

Conclusion
(1) In this paper, through S/N ratio and ANOVA
analysis to predict the optimal combination find
the best combination is A2, B1, C1; and by
verification experiment the analysis and results
prove correct, corroborating that the Taguchi
method can effectively predict the optimal
parameters of the standard
(2) Using Taguchi Method orthogonal array for
planning experimental design, the experimental
cost and time savings were very effective and
more parameters to be use in a future.
(3) Throughout the experimental procedure and
results we found that the ceramic layered gives
very good results. And the ceramic fragments
will not damage the instrumentation or injury to
laboratory personnel rerulting in a best result of
the ceramic composite bulletproof capability.
(4) During the study we found that that a large
amount of zirconia reduce the energy absorption
capability, Therefore, alumina and zirconia do
mix, Alumina need to have certain amount.