Ballistic performance of novel design of bulletproof plates inspired by biomimetic approaches

Metal and polymer matrix composite materials are preferred in bulletproof applications due to their high-impact resistance and lightness. Personal/demand-specific designs that have become possible with the developing additive manufacturing technologies have brought a new perspective to armor technologies. At the same time, parts with complex structures designed with biomimetic approaches can be easily manufactured with additive manufacturing. In this study, biomimetic armors obtained from standard Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and Inconel 718 materials were compared with traditional armor structures. Within the scope of the study, 9 × 19 mm² parabellum and 7.62 mm NATO bullets were impacted at 275 m/s and 600 m/s speeds on biomimetic and conventional armor consisting of three and five layers. Bullet velocities during impact, deformation of bullets, deformation of armor, and harmonic behavior are discussed. The results obtained were also used to calculate the damped impact energies. In the study, it was determined that biomimetic plates could absorb 22%–38% more impact energy. It has been determined that CFRP materials can absorb 45% more impact energy compared to Inconel 718.