USE OF RUBBERIZED MORTAR AS A CUSHION LAYER AGAINST PROJECTILE IMPACT

Abstract

Due to the rising concern of terrorism and advancement of weapon technology, a two-layer composite has been proposed to protect the existing structures against projectile impact. The top layer was made of high strength mortar to stop the projectile at the initial impact, while the bottom layer, made of rubberized mortar, was used to absorb the residual energy. Different rubberized layers with rubber contents from 0% to 25% were used. The performance of the proposed design has been investigated both experimentally and numerically. Impact tests with a velocity of 500m/s were carried out on two-layer slabs to evaluate the degree of visible damage. Numerical simulation using a well-calibrated material model was performed to evaluate the damage accumulation under the same impact. The results showed that the proposed design is able to resist the projectile penetration and reduce the damage accumulation. The use of rubberized mortar leads to an enhanced energy absorption without causing excessive damage.