Simulation of Bullet Penetration using Finite

Element Method
1st D.P. Jena 2nd Dusmanta Kumar Jena 3rd Shivcharan Kumar
Department of Industrial Design Naval Armament Inspectorate Department of Industrial Design
National Institute of Technology Rourkela Cossipore, Kolkata, India-700002 National Institute of Technology Rourkela
India-769008 [email protected] India-769008
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract—Present research work simulates the dynamics of a II. F INITE E LEMENT M ODELLING
bullet and its penetration over a steel plate. The role of various
parameters such as angle of impact, velocity of impact, angular The underneath mathematical model used to estimate the
velocity of bullet and mass of the bullet have been investi- stiffness and force, used in present finite element formulation,
gated numerically using finite element method. To start with, can be stated as [1], [7].
a configuration from literature has been taken and numerically
investigated to establish the robust simulation technique based
on explicit dynamics. The demonstrated estimated simulation [K]{u} = {F a } + {F r }
result agrees to the reported experimental result adequately.
∑
N
Subsequently, various configurations of bullets such as ak47 where, [K] = [ke ] is stiffness matrix and {u} is nodal
7.62×39 bullet, 7.62×25 bullet and hollow point bullet have been m=1
taken for investigation. The influence of angle of impact has displacement vector. The N is number of elements. The [Ke ]
been examined by changing the angle of impact (00 -600 ) with is the stiffness matrix and the {F r } is known as reaction load
constant linear and angular speed. Subsequently, the linear and vector. Using such formulation, the applied load, {F a }, in
angular velocities, and density of the bullets have been varied with
respect to angle on incidence and the corresponding results have vector form can be stated as:
been demonstrated to understand the most optimal performance
of the bullet and bullet parameters. Moreover, the estimated
penetration depths and analytical validation of kinetic energy
∑
N
{F a } = {F nd } + {F ac } + ({Feth } + {Fepr })
for all configurations have been presented in the paper in detail.
m=1
Index Terms—Bullet Penetration, ak47 7.62×39 Bullet,
7.62×25 Bullet, Hollow Point Bullet, FEA where, the {F nd } is nodal load vector, and {F ac }= -
[M ]{ac } is corresponding acceleration vector. The total mass
∑
N
matrix has been defined as [M ] = [Me ]. Where, the
I. I NTRODUCTION m=1
[Me ] is element mass matrix, {ac } is acceleration vector
Public security and premises security became cumbersome and {Feth }, and {Fepr } is element thermal and load vector,
because of increasing terrorism, road accident and public vio- respectively. The above formulation has been solved using
lence. In this present era, due to cut throat competition among nonlinear structural solver in explicit dynamics module in
peoples and countries security is very essential factor. Security ANSYS platform.
can be done by either hiring security guards, building weapons
III. B ENCHMARKING AND VALIDATION
or either building objects or materials that protects life [2],
[5]. Building bullet proof jacket, cars or environment may To start with first a bullet (7.62×39 steel and cupper core
help to achieve so. Such intension provokes us to simulate the ak47 bullet) has been taken from investigation from literature
various scenarios of bullets penetrating on plates and analyze [4]. The detailed geometry and corresponding 3D model has
the corresponding variations so that an effective conclusion can been shown in Fig.1. In this particular simulation, a steel
be made which can enhance the designing of bullet or bullet plate of 200mm×200mm×4mm has been taken as target to
proof materials. However, in order to do that the dynamics of be penetrated. The density, youngs modulus, poisons ratio,
bullet need to be understood. The design of bullet is equally yield stress and elongation for the target material have been
important to achieve desired performance of a gun system. defined as 7.8e-9 mg/mm3 , 2.1e5 MPa, 0.3, 1.7e3 MPa and
The present research focuses in simulating the impact of the 7%, respectively. In a similar fashion, the bullet material
bullet and try to estimate its penetration on soft as well as properties such as density, youngs modulus, and poisons ratio
hard material. In other way around, the same approach may have been taken as 11.3e-9 mg/mm3 , 1.6e4 MPa, and 0.4,
be used to enhance the design of the bullet which is definitely correspondingly. The target has been fixed and the velocity of
enhance the weapon strength of the defence system [3], [6]. the bullet has been assigned to have 710 m/s and rotational
 Fig. 1. Dimension and corresponding CAD model of ak47 bullet core.

velocity=36000 rpm. Bullet has been kept 500mm from the been examined by changing the angle of impact with angle
target. variation (00 -600 ) with constant speed. Afterward, the velocity,
Using very fundamental physics, the kinetic energy density of the bullets has been varied with respect to angle on
(KE) of / the aforesaid bullet has been calculated incidence. First, by keeping rotational speed constant, 36000
(KE=mv 2 2=2.36×106 mJ). Next, as discussed earlier, RPM, the linear velocity of the bullet has been varied from
the simulation has been carried out in ANSYS explicit 300m/s-800m/s. Next, the angular velocity of the bullets has
dynamics module. The modelling and desired meshing has been varied from 36000 RPM to 216000 RPM by keeping
been carried out including a grid testing to conclude the linear velocity constant such as 500 miles per second. At
final desired meshing. The boundary conditions of the bullet last, the bullet mass has been varied by changing the density
and the target have been assigned as mentioned above. The from 4850 kg/mm3 to 9850 kg/mm3 . The simulations for all
transient analysis has been carried out with a time step 1e-7 aforementioned conditions have been carried out as discussed
second. The observed residual error in convergence has been in earlier section. In all analyses the target remains same as
observed to be below 1e-3. On executing the simulation, it steel plate mentioned in earlier section.
has been observed that the bullet couldnt penetrate the target.
V. R ESULTS AND D ISCUSSION
The kinetic energy of the bullet decimates over time and
have been shown in Fig.2. The numerical and experimental First, the bullet parameter such as impact angle has been
[4] kinetic energy agree to each other up to very large varied from 0o -60o to demonstrate its role in penetration.
extent. From demonstrated simulations, it can be inferred In this simulation three different types bullets such as ak47
that the proposed simulation technique is reliable enough to 7.62×39, rifle 7.62×25 and hollow point bullet and target as
understand the dynamics of the bullet. steel plate. The linear velocity and angular velocity have been
Generally, bullets do not impact normally because of its kept as 710m/s and 500 RPS, respectively. The numerically
own inertia and it moves down while firing in real cases. In estimated results have been shown in Fig. 3(a). From figure, it
general, such variation has been observed from 0o to 60o . The can be noticed that the maximum penetration when the bullet
linear velocity of the bullet has maximum impact on depth of impacts normal to surface, however, very poor penetration
penetration and variation from 300m/s to 800m/s have been has been observed below 45o . Next, the linear velocity of
observed. However, the bullet has also the angular velocity the aforementioned bullets has been varied form 300m/s to
and which in general varied from 36000rpm to 216000 rpm. 800m/s. The penetration depth for corresponding velocities
The mass of the bullet linearly proportional to the inertia of the have been shown in Fig.3(b). From figure, it can be inferred
bullet and having a proportional effect on depth of penetration that the penetration depth is proportional to impact velocity as
which varies from 4850kg/m3 to 9850kg/ m3 [2], [3], [5], [6]. the KE (mv2 /2) of bullet is directly proposal to v 2 .
Subsequently, the angular velocity of the bullet has been var-
IV. S IMULATION ied form 36000rpm-216000 rpm for afore mentioned bullets.
Next, three different types of bullets have been taken for The corresponding estimated penetration of the bullets have
investigation such as ak47 7.62×39 bullet, 7.62×25 bullet been shown in Fig.3(c). From figure, it can be inferred that the
and hollow point bullet. The influence of angle of impact has penetration depth does not depend upon the angular velocity
 Fig. 2. Time domain simulation and decimation of kinetic energy of the bullet over time.

Fig. 3. Estimated simulation results; (a) angle of impact verses penetration depth, (b) linear velocity verses penetration depth.

unlike linear velocity of the bullet as the angular velocity of VI. C ONCLUSION
the bullet is responsible for flying far. At last the mass of the
The numerical simulation of dynamics of the bullet and
bullet has been varied by altering the density of the material
its penetration on a steel plate has been benchmarked and
form 4850kg/m3 to 9850 kg/ m3 . The simulations have been
the estimated numerical results agree to analytical and exper-
carried out by keeping linear velocity and angular velocity
imental observation adequately. The potential of the proposed
to 500m/s and 36000rpm, respectively. The corresponding
simulation has been shown by investigating three different
estimated penetration depths have been shown in Fig.3(d).
types bullet such as ak47 7.62×39, rifle 7.62×25 and hollow
As the KE of the bullet is directly proportional to mass of
point bullet. Various parameters of bullet such as angle of
the bullet, it can be seen in figure that the penetration depth
impact, linear velocity, angular velocity and weight of bullet
linearly changes over mass of the bullet.
has been varied and corresponding effect on penetration have
been demonstrated. The discussed method of simulation may
have been reckoned as real-time design of bullet or bullet
proof material. However, optimization of such parameters are
interesting and may be considered as future scope of work.
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