Chance of Hit Theory

Prof James K Varkey

22 Dec 14
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
1. Requirements of armour protection and
principal ways of meeting these requirements
2. Classification of hulls and turrets
3. Analysis of realized design and their
comparative estimates.
4. Design calculations of main parts of and
armour protection.
5. Anti – cumulative and anti atomic protection of
tanks
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements
 Armour protection governs the ability to survive under enemy fire
and to move freely on the battle field.
 Earlier days the armour of tanks was designed to protect them
against ballistic attack
 High carbon steel containing Nickel and Chromium with a tensile
strength of 850 to 1700 MN/m² were used as armour steel.
 Later armour steel heat treated to increase its resistance to
penetration by projectiles and then tempered to make it tougher to
absorb kinetic energy of the impacting projectile.
 During first world war armour steel was heat treated to a Brinell
Harness Number (BHN) of 420 to 650.
 The thickness of the steel plate increased from 15 mm to 185 mm
during second world war.
 After 1945, Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) which is
machineable was widely used. (T-55 and T-62 used 100 mm
RHA)
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements
Reliable Protection of the Crew and Internal Equipment.
 Manufacturing the vital parts with highly shell-proof armour steel with
optimum combination of strength and hardness.
 Sufficient thickness of the front and side parts of the hull and turret based
on the analysis of enemy capability. DPV or similar study reports on
probability of survival should be considered.
 Large dimensions of the vital armour parts not to be weakened by weld
joints, hatches and holes. The energy of the shell is to be absorbed by
monolithic armour part to ensure no damage to welded joints.
 Employment of composite and spaced armour with liners fitted inside the
armour such as resin-bonded glass (Kevlar). Liners of appropriate
materials can increase the protection against radiation from nuclear
weapons.
 Special attention to provide protection of the ports, final drives, air
inlet/outlet ducts, hatches, vision devices etc.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements
Strength and Rigidity of the Hull and Turret
The hull and turret have to withstand damage, cracks, deformation, as well as
displacement of units due to shelling, shockwave, recoil, cross country run at
high speed etc. To meet these requirements:
 Large thickness, strength and rigidity of the basic shell-proof armour.
 Strong joint welds for permanent connection of the basic armour parts
with high quality resilient built-up metal to withstand cracking and
dangerous sheer stresses.
 The turret platform carrying the heavy turret is supported by transverse
stiffening girder (3) welded to the thick side plates. To increase the
strength and rigidity, the rear plates are welded to the sides over the
entire height of the hull.
 To strengthen the bottom welded longitudinal and transverse ribs are
used. Rigidity of the turret bottom is usually increased by welded-in ribs.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements
The minimum weight of the armour parts
With the given level of protection and required crew convenience the weight
has to be kept minimum. In addition to important measures on
arrangements of tank components, this requirement is met by number of
design solutions as under:
 Employment of differentiated armour plating as per probability of hit
and composite armour.
 Employment of heavily sloped armour plates (60-650), thus reducing
armour piercing ability of percussion shells and weakening the killing
ability of hollow charges.
 Rationalization of the shape of the welded hulls.
 Replacement of armour steel with aluminium, magnesium and other
light armour alloys (gives economy in weight upto 5%). Two layer
armour plating with layers at a distance of 300-500mm gives weight
reduction of bullet proof hulls
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements

Tightness of the hull and turret.

Preventing the tank from water flooding, damage from small splinters,
lead splash, inflammable fluids, shock wave and NBC agents is
ensured by:-
 Employment of tight joint welds for permanent connection of the
hull and turret parts
 Installation of sealing gaskets under the detachable armour
parts.
 Use of various packings for the arm spindles, splines of torsion
bar and idler wheel shackles.
 Special packings for the turret race, ports of the gun, machine
gun, sights and vision devices.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements

Simplicity and Production Effectiveness.

 Design of hull and turret should be simple reducing cost, metal and
labour.
 It should be possible to quickly start manufacturing tanks to meet
war time requirements by simplified process of thermal treatment
and straightening of plates and reducing the machining of half
finished products before welding.
 Simplified design for welded joints and use of automatic welding
process.
 Easy fitment of engine, armament, power transmission units, and
track and suspension units should be ensured during design stage.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Requirements of Armour Protection and Principal
Ways of Meeting These Requirements
Specific Requirement for the Turret
 Turret should be balanced with respect to the axis of rotation of
the ball race.
 To balance the gun and heavy armour plating of the turret front,
the pronounced bays in the rear section of the turret is used (used
for accommodating ammunition).
 Hull design should ensure possibility of installing a turret with a
powerful gun having a large turning radius, long recoil.
 The width of the hull and the inner diameter of turret race is
increased to the limiting value; widening of hull upper part
throughout or under the turret only.
 Powerful suspension necessary for high speed tanks and large
dynamic travel of road wheels and track drive with variable
clearance.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Classification of Hull and Turret
As per degree of Armour protection
 To protect the crew from small arm fire and small splinters from shells
the hull and turret are made bullet proof.
 Front sectors are made shell proof and slope of 50-60 degrees for
protection from armour piercing projectiles.
 MBTs all over the world have shell proof armour hulls and turrets to
achieve:
 Protection from impact of armour piercing shells, hollow charge
and armour piercing high-explosive shells
 High attenuation factor of gamma-rays flow
 High strength and rigidity withstanding the pressure of shock wave
 High power to weight ratio inhibiting its overturning by a shock
wave.
 Protection of the crew from mass destruction weapons
 Disadvantage – large weight, complexity in production,
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Classification of Hull and Turret
As per Method of Manufacturing.
 The turrets of the majority of the world tanks are manufactured by casting,
and the hulls by welding.
 Casting of hulls and turrets has following advantages:-
1. Possible to shape them to the most rational shell-proof spatial form.
2. Allows wide differentiations of the thickness over height and periphery.
3. Ensures high strength and rigidity due to exclusion of joint welds.
4. Sharply reduces labour consumed for cutting the parts from sheet,
machining the edges, matching and welding, relieving the rolling mills and
reelers, quenching baths and welding roll-over stands (tilters).
5. Sharply reduces consumption of electrodes.
 .
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Classification of Hull and Turret

As per Method of Manufacturing

 Disadvantages of Casting:-
 Requires creation of new specialized foundry production with unique
moulding and hardening.
 Powerful teeming and crane equipment.
 Lower ballistic strength (5-7%) as compared to rolled ones
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
As per Schematic Designs.

Cylindrical Tapered

Hemispherical Pronounced rear bay

 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Classification as per Schematic

The turrets are divided as per their shape as under:

 Cylindrical – Generally not used
 Tapered
 Hemispherical
 Turrets with pronounced rear bay
Hemispherical cast turrets (T-54) easy in production, but unbalanced
as centre of gravity is displaced from axis of rotation.

Pronounced rear bay type (MBT 70) increases the armour enclosed
area but used for accommodating ammunition, thus reducing the
unbalance of the turret. This increases the weight of the turret and the
total weight of the tank. M60A1, Leopard, Chieftain used this
configuration.
Disadvantage is driver’s vision is blocked when tank is on march with
the gun reversed.
 Classification of Hull and Turret
As per schematic designs.
15
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Shape of the Hull Front

Vertical Armour Ship Type

Semielliptical

Wedge type Slope >60

Wedge shaped Wedge shaped deg
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Shape of the Hull Front

 Vertical armour in front of the driver. Not in use now. Earlier

Soviet tanks used this shape.

 Ship type and semielliptical are complicated in production in

case of composite armour and vulnerability of welded joint and
need for pronounced brackets for idler wheels for enveloping the
hull front with tracks.
 The wedge shaped hull fronts with large sloping angles possess
high ballistic strength, simpler in production particularly in case
od composite armour.
 The track adjusting mechanism housing is welded directly in the
hull without any pronounced brackets.
This type is the most widely used Hull front shape.
 Classification of Hull and Turret
18
As per the shape of the cross section of the hull..

Without internal niches in the sides

With local niches under the turret.

 Classification of Hull and Turret

19 As per the shape of the cross section of the hull..

With niches inside tracks

With niches above tracks

Cast hull with niches over and

inside tracks (M60 A1)
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Analysis of Realized Design and their Comparative Estimates
Hulls
 Welded hulls with flat rolled sheets and cast armour parts joined to from a
single construction by welding.
Strength, rigidity and tightness of the hull depends on quality of welded
joints.
 For this purpose the filler metal should be resilient so as to eliminate
cracking of the weld due to deformation of the joint armour parts when a
shell hit occurs.

 Strength of angular joints are increased by mutual and direct support of

the armour parts for relieving the joint welds.

 Preparation of the edges of the parts to be joined for welding should not
demand large scope of machining and machining operations.

 Butt joints are commonly used

 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Analysis of Realized Design and their Comparative Estimates
The most complicated design components of the welded hull are vital front and
side units, rear unit with welded –in final drive housing and the bottom with many
hatches and holes.

1- Front unit

2- Side unit

3- Rear unit

4-Bottom
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Air Inlet and Outlet Ducts
 Hard to perform and contradictory requirements for detachable armour roof of
the engine/power compartment.
 To reduce power loss for ventilation they should have large air open area
and minimum aerodynamic drag; and at the same time,
 Provide protection from radiations and bullets/splinters.
 Louvers provide the best solution.

a,b,c,d – Armour
Grills.
e. Louvers
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Gun Mounting
 To avoid significant weakening of ballistic strength, strength and rigidity of the turret,
the gun port should be of minimum dimensions and closed over the periphery.
 The gun bracket and its trunnions should be strong-to withstand the force of
resistance to recoil (110 ton for 120 mm German gun of Keiler tank).

Different methods
of bringing Gun to
the turret
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Design Calculations of Main Parts of Tank Armour Protection

 The required thickness of most important armour parts of the hull and turret
are determined by the level of protection from given AP Shells and sufficient
Anti-atomic protection.

 Armour Piercing Discarding Sabots (APDS) are the most commonly used
shells for against armour

ds= Core dia of shell

d= Gun Calibre
ds = 0.35d (generally)
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Design Calculations of Main Parts of tank Armour protection

 Small weight of the APDS (≈1/3 of ordinary shell) facilitates fast

acceleration under the pressure of the powder gases upto muzzle velocity
(MV) of 1800 m/s (6480 kmph).

 The discarding of the sabot immediately after the exit from the bore
sharply reduces (upto 10 times) the cross section area of the shell,
thereby decreasing the air resistance to its flight vastly.

 C, Ballistic factor (characterizing the air resistance and intensity of velocity

loss in flight) for the APDS shot is,

 Less than 1.5 times that of ordinary capped shells, and

 Less than 3 times that of ordinary old cap less shells.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
APFSDS

APFSDS projectile of the type fired from

Soviet 115 and 125mm guns
with its ring-type sabot half-sectioned.

Section through a US XM735E2

APFSDS projectile with a saddle,
or, spool type sabot.

APFSDS at point of
separation of sabot.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
 Streamline shapes and high l/d ratio provide a high ballistic quality and
higher cross-sectional load (≈1.5 times).
 Cross-Sectional load, φ = Qs/Fs

weight of the shot Qs N kgf

  2 or ,
cross sectional area of the shot Fs m cm 2
ΦAPDS = 0.26 to 0.32 kgf/cm2.
Φar = 0.17 to 0.21 kgf/cm2

 A great cross sectional load φ predetermines their high specific kinetic energy, e

K.E ( 1.5 times ordinary shell)

e
X - sectional area of the shot
1  Qs  2
 g V Qs .V 2 V2
 2     ; kJ 2 or , ton.m 2
Fs 2 gFs 2g m cm
 4 to 5 times higher tha n the ordinary shells.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
 Considering the high muzzle and flight velocities of sabot their specific
energy at 1 km reaches up to;
e = 25 to 35 ton.m/cm2 (=2453 to 3434 MJ/m2)
= 4 to 5 times that of ordinary shells.
 The accumulated energy of the shot must be expended mainly for the
destruction of the armour rather than the shot itself.
 Therefore the whole body or, the core of the shot is made of either of the
following materials giving high strength and hardness; comparable with the
hardness of diamond:-
MATERIAL γ, SPECIFIC WEIGHT, gm/cc
Tungsten-carbide 14
Uranium carbide 18.5
Special alloys 13-19
Steel 7.3
 At 1 km, these shots penetrate rolled armour of average thickness of 300 mm at
normal hit.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
ANALYTICAL METHOD
To calculate the ballistic strength of the armour plating of the
main parts.
Maximum safe hit velocity, Vs and Minimum safe range, Ds with limited
information on the enemy gun ballistic properties.
Let
d = Enemy gun caliber.
ds = dia. Of the core of the sabot.
Q = weight of the shell.
Qs = weight of the sabot core.
V0 = muzzle velocity of the gun.
S = ballistic factor of the shell.
b0 = armour thickness
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
1. Normal Hit (α=0)- for APDS

Armour fails due to one or, combination of;

1. Puncturing
2. Pushing out a plug
3. Breakdown
4. Through crack
5. Chipping from the reverse side
The value of the stresses and the type of damage depend
on the relationship of calibre d of the shell and thickness bo
of the armour plate.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Force R p (a mean one depending upon the armour plate thickness)
for puncturing the armour plate is proportional to the UTS,  b in
compressing the armour plate

d 2
Rp   B
4
Force R shear (a mean one depending upon the armour plate
thickness)
for pushing out a plug is dependent upon the ultimate strength  B
in case of shearing the armour plate

dbo dbo
Rshear B where  Mean shear area
2 2
The least of these two resistance forces will determine the kind of
typical damage.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Normal Hit - Three cases:-
1. Rp < Rshear; failure due to puncturing
2. Rshear < Rp failure due to plugging out
3. Rp = Rshear failure due to combination effect; represents boundary
area where both kinds of damage are possible .
Putting the value of the forces, we can find out relationship of calibre and
thickness. For the boundary area condition, taking
R p  Rshear

d 2 dbo τB
 B B gives, d  2b0  b0 : for armour steel,  B  2 B
4 2 σB

Conclusion
 Shells of small caliber, d<b0; mainly puncture the armour, and
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Normal Hit (α=0)- for APDS
 The APDS have ds = 40-55 mm, and penetrate armour upto

bo = 300 mm.

Here, d <<<< bo, therefore the typical damage is by puncturing (by force
Rp) and smashing stress.

The approximate calculation formula (for K.E of the shell) is deduced by

the energy method by equating,
K.E of the shell, E to work, L of force Rp in path b0.

Qs .Vs 2 d 2
E  B
 L  Rp.bo  .b0
g .2 4
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
By designating the ultimate strength and all the constant values by letter
k and by determining velocity vs from the balance of energy, we will get:

b0
Vs  k .d s - - - - (5) Vs  max. safe velocity of shell hit on armour
Qs
 0.97 Vdth
k  factor of armour ballistic strength
d s  dia. of shabot core or, body of shell, m
Q s  Weight of the body of the solid shot, N
v dth  Velocity of destructio n threshold

Vdth is the maximum velocity of the shell hits the armour which does
not cause destruction
Therefore. For better protection we need Higher values of
 k (depends upon Ultimate strength in compression)
 b0 (can be increased by sloping)
For the modern K.E penetrators, ds = 20-30 mm; l = 500-600 mm
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Normal Hit (α=0)- Ballistic Strength of Composite Armour
 For calculating the ballistic strength of the composite armour, it is
replaced with an equivalent monolithic armour plate of medium
hardness.

 Use is made of relative thickness, ѵ (determined experimentally) of

the material equivalent in shell resistance to the medium-hard rolled
armour (MRA).
 For example, for medium-hard cast iron armour ѵ = 1.07.
 That is, for the equivalent replacement of the rolled armour of 100
mm thickness, the cast iron replacement should be 107 mm.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Normal Hit (α=0)- Ballistic Strength of Composite Armour

 Knowing the thickness, bi and the

equivalent thickness ѵi of the
materials of each layer, equivalent
thickness b0 of the monolithic
equivalent plate can be found as
under,
b2 b3 b4
b0  b1   
2 3 4
b1 is the thickness of MRA

If the product of the specific weight  i and relative equivalent thickness  i of

the material is less than the specific weight of the armour steel, i.e.

 i . i   steel

Then, the employment of this material reduces the weight of the armour
construction of the equal ballistic strength.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Oblique Hit (α ≠ 0) N

 More probable and important is α

oblique hit of the shell on armour.

---
------------------
---
-----------------
Here, the main task is to establish
a relationship between thickness b
of the armour plate and the angle
α of the projectile hit with normal.
b
b = b0. cosα b0

The armour piercing capability is characterized by:-

a. l/d ratio and,
b. Strength and shape of ogival section of the shot.
Where l length of projectile and d diameter
 Oblique Hit (α ≠ 0)
Short point Headed shots and point headed ordinary shells
with armour piercing caps.

 These shots encounter resistance in the

form of:-
 Great normal reaction Rn, and
 Slight tangential reaction Rt.
 The resultant R of these two forces
creates a great moment about the c.g of
the shot, denormalizing the shot
(increasing the angle α); thereby,
 Making the path of the shot longer and,
 Penetration of sloped armour difficult.
 Oblique Hit (α ≠ 0)
Flat headed ordinary shells and sabots.
 Flat headed ordinary shots while penetrating the armour with
blunt nose form the armour lug while penetrating. This together
with the obstacle offers:-
 Smaller normal reaction Rn, and
 Big tangential reaction Rt.
 The resultant R of these two forces turns the shot towards
normal, decreasing angle α; thereby,

 Reducing the path of the shot travel and Penetration of sloped

armour will become easier
 Oblique Hit (α ≠ 0)
Long Arrow Shaped shot.

 The turning moment is large and the resultant force R more towards
normal. Therefore these shots are most efficient at big angle of
impact.
 Oblique Hit (α ≠ 0)_
 In practical calculations, the difference in the armour piercing abilities
of the shells of the three types is taken into account by experimental
index of power n of cosine of angle of impact α, as under:-
b  b0 . cos n  - - - - - - - (8)

 With a constant thickness of the normally shelled part, equivalent

thickness bo decreases with an increase in:
 Angle of impact α, and
 Index of power n.
 Therefore, higher index n, the lower is the armour piercing
effect of the shell of particular type on sloped armour.
 To determine the maximum safe velocity of the shell oblique hit on
armour let us put bo from equation 8 above in equation 5, Vs for
APDS with index n
b
Vs  k .d s - - - -(9) for APDS
Qs . cos n 
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Anti-cumulative and Anti-atomic Protection of Tanks
The hulls and turrets of latest tanks made of special armour steel and
designed for full scale protection from the percussion shells, but do not
ensure the required level of protection against anti-cumulative and anti-
atomic attacks.

Protection against Shaped Charge shells.

A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the

explosive's energy. Various types are used to initiate nuclear weapons,
penetrate armour, and digging wells in the oil and gas industry.

A typical modern shaped charge, with a metal liner on the charge cavity, can
penetrate armor steel to a depth of 7 or more times the diameter of the charge
(charge diameters, CD), though greater depths of 10 CD and above have
been achieved.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

 The High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds take a cone-shaped shaped

charge warhead to targets. A copper shaped charge liner and wave shaper
are contained within the warhead.

 HEAT comprises an outer casing, a metal cone and an explosive. When

the explosive detonates, the metal cone is squeezed together and a metal
jet is formed which, with great force, penetrates the hard armor.

 Due to its good effect in armored targets, with its inherent blast and
fragmentation capability, the hollow charges have a serious threat to
armored vehicles.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)
A shaped charge is a concave metal hemisphere or cone (known as
a liner) backed by a high explosive, all in a steel or aluminum
casing. When the high explosive is detonated, the metal liner is
compressed and squeezed forward, forming a jet whose tip may
travel as fast as 10 kilometers per second.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

1- Aerodynamic cover 2 - Air-filled cavity;

3 - Conical liner 4- Detonator
5 – Explosive 6 - Piezo-electric trigger
Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Squash Head (HESH)
 HESH rounds are thin metal shells filled with plastic explosive and a
delayed-action base fuse. The plastic explosive is squashed against the
surface of the target on impact and spreads out to form a disc of explosive.
The base fuse detonates the explosive milliseconds later, creating a shock
wave that, owing to its large surface area and direct contact with the target,
is transmitted through the material.

 The compression shock wave is conducted through the armour to the point
where it reaches the metal/air interface (the hollow crew compartment),
where some of the energy is reflected as a tension wave. At the point where
the compression and tension waves intersect a high-stress zone is created
in the metal, causing pieces of steel to be projected off the interior wall at
high velocity. This fragmentation by blast wave is known as spalling,

 The spall travels through the interior of the vehicle at high velocity, killing or
injuring the crew, damaging equipment, and/or igniting ammunition and fuel.
 Unlike HEAT rounds, HESH shells are not specifically designed to perforate
the armour of main battle tanks. HESH shells rely on the transmission of the
shock wave through the solid steel armour.
Armour Layout and Hull Design
High Explosive Squash Head (HESH)
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP)
A typical Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP) is comprised of a metallic liner, a
case, an explosive section, and an initiation train.
There is also a retaining ring to position and hold the liner-explosive
subassembly in place.

EFP warheads are designed to produce a single massive, high velocity

penetrator. After detonation, the explosive products create enormous pressures
that accelerate the liner while simultaneously reshaping it into a rod or some
other desired shape.

The EFP then hits the target at a high speed, delivering a significantly high
mechanical power.

The projectile forms by dynamic plastic flow and has a velocity of 1-3 km/s .
Target penetration is much less than that of a jet, but the hole diameter is larger
with more armour backspall.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
50 Anticumulative and Antiatomic Protection...
Protection against Hollow Charge (HEAT).
Advantages of HEAT.
1. High armour piercing ability independent of the range, upto four
times the shell diameter.
y m  4d
2. High killing effect (after penetration)
 Inflammation of the diesel fuel.
 Explosion of ammunition.
 Injury to crew from splinters from the inside of the armour.
 Dangerous elevated pressure (upto 1 m distance of the jet) and
gases following the jet.
3. Small weight and low cost of weapon.
Considering the special features of the design of hollow charges
different methods are adopted for protection.
Armour Layout and Hull Design
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Methods of Protection from HEAT.
1. Plate Screens.
 Aim is to explode the Hollow charge prematurely at the
maximum possible distance from the armour part.
 The ballistic strength of the screen is required to be just
sufficient to:-
 Secure it to the tank, and
 To actuate the sensitive fuse of the HEAT shell.
 The skirting plates are screens in the form of;
 Light stamped plates,
 Wire nets,
 Lattices,
 A set of rods
 The efficiency of protection by screens depends chiefly on its,
a. Distance xs from the armour part, and
b. Resistance of the cumulative jet to decomposition.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Methods of Protection from HEAT
The experimental ratio of armour-piercing ability y of the jet to distance x, the
jet travels in the air is approximated for the limiting values x ≤ 3 m
 
2
x
k j .

y  y m 0.81e 2
 0.19 
 
 
y m  Armour piercing ability
when shell hits the armour plate
k j  factor of jet decomposition
intensity; lower value indicates
more effective jet.
x b
Using x  s , y  in the above
cos  cos 
and simplifying, we get

 
 
2  0.81 
x s  cos  . ln
kj  b 
  0.19 
 y m cos  
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Methods of Protection from HEAT

2. Slopping of Armour Plate. Large slopping angles of the armour

plates ( 60 to 70 deg) decrease the danger of cumulative damage.

An increase in angle of impact of hollow charge shell results in deforming

the charge and the cone lining, and there by upsetting the process of
normal functioning of the cumulative jet.

3. Composite Armour. Employment of composite armour plates with

special inclusions extinguishing the cumulative jets. Some light metals
and alloys, non-ferrous materials and plastics possess a high flame
extinguishing ability. A combination of such materials with armour steel
makes it possible to reduce the weight of armour also.

4. ERA. Employment of Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). The method

of active protection is possible by setting off small explosive charges on
armour surface can destroy the incoming shell.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Anti-Atomic Protection

Collective protection of tank crew from shock wave injury, from contamination
with chemical and radioactive agents is ensured by provision of special anti-
atomic protection and filter and ventilator units.

Protection required against:

 Blast Effect (Shock Waves)
 Thermal Effect
 Immediate Radiation Effect (Gamma Radiation and Neutron Emission)
 Residual Radiation Effect
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Anti-Atomic Protection

The shock waves from a nuclear explosion represents sharp and strong
compression of air in ground zero spreading in the radii of the
hemisphere at a supersonic speed.

The excessive pressure in the shock wave front depends on:

 The nature of explosion
 Yield of nuclear bomb
 State of atmosphere
 Distance of tank from the place of explosion.

The moment the wave approaches at a given point in space, the

pressure rises instantaneously and masses of air move at a very high
speed in all directions from ground zero.

The pressure starts to drop and upon termination of the compression

phase and become equal to atmospheric pressure. Then the masses of
air start moving back wards.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Anti-Atomic Protection
 The vertical surfaces of the tank facing ground zero experience excessive
pressure in the shock wave front and velocity.

 The strength of the vertical parts of the shell proof hull and turret need to
be designed for taking up these pressures.

 When the wave moves against the tank, the excessive pressure at the
wave front acts on the tank horizontal surfaces.
The weak parts of the roof and bottom, the hatch covers and the shutter
blades can be destroyed due to sharp shock application.

 The time taken for the wave front to reach tank may be fractions of
seconds.
For example an excessive pressure of 3 atm travels at a speed of 640 m/s.
The hull roof with width of 2m will begin to be loaded as the wave approaches
the hull side facing the ground zero and will be fully loaded in 0.00315s.

 During the design stage over estimation of calculated stresses need to be

catered at reinforcement of welded joints, welded ribs, bulkheads and
brackets.
 Armour Layout and Hull Design
Anti-Atomic Protection

 Immediate radiation from the nuclear explosion or radioactive

contamination of the ground is most dangerous for the crew.

 Increasing the anti-radiation protection by increasing the armour thickness

at roof and bottom will increase the weight of the tank.

 Most promising method is of increasing the anti-radiation resistance of the

tank is the employment of composite armour with special inclusions for
grater attenuation of radiation.

 Gamma rays flux is attenuated most effectively by heavy materials. Lead

plate of thickness 1.3 cm decreases dose of gamma rays by half. Lead
sheets are generally used at the bottom of the tank for attenuation of
secondary gamma radiation on the radioactive ground.

 A layer of diesel fuel of thickness 6 cm decreases dose of neutrons by half.

Armour Layout and Hull Design

Discussion/Questions ???