Dynamic characterization of fibre reinforced composite (S-Glass) in rigid armoured vehicle / Abd Halim Haji Idris

The advent of high strength and light weight composite materials and newly developed resin materials have radically changed the concepts of advanced space structure and Armoured vehicles [I]. This high strength - to-weight or modulus-to-weight ratios of composites could also result in lighter structural components with lower operating costs and better maintenance history. Since, most current space structures , unmanned vehicles, aircraft structures and high performance defence vehicles are designed to be robust ; designers have been quick to realize the advantages of this advanced material. In response to this, the United State Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) had been evaluating alternative lighter weight materials such as titanium alloys and ceramic tile/polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) that are currently the only practical possibilities for lighter-weight structural armour applications [2]. The alloys do have disadvantages when a spall liner] is required that there are relatively to fabrication example machining and welding. Although PMCs offer some advantages for example freedom from spalling against chemical threats, a quieter operator environment and a high mass efficiency against ball and fragment ballistic threats. Nevertheless, spall liners have been identified as providing improved protection for the tank crews but they still have a number of problems.