Ballistic Protection of Military Shelters from Mortar Fragmentation and Blast Effects using a Multi layer Structure

Tamer Abd Elshenawy; Mohamed Aboel Seoud; G. M. Abdo

doi:10.14429/dsj.69.13269

Tamer Abd Elshenawy Technical Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Mohamed Aboel Seoud Technical Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
G. M. Abdo Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.69.13269

Keywords: Mortar, Protection, Split-X, AUTODYN

Abstract

In addition to its usage as a top attack ammunition in the battle field against troops, 120 mm mortar bomblet
has been recently used in the terror attacks against military shelters and civil constructions. This research studies
the protection of vehicle and personnel military shelters against mortar fragmentation warhead projectile and it’s
destroying effects. The mortar warhead threat combines both blast load and ballistic fragment penetration effects. Composite structure layers are proposed herein to be integrated with concertina walls to achieve full protection against the mortar projectile destroying effects. The current paper investigates the ability of the proposed layers to stop the mortar’s fragments and to mitigate its blast load. The velocity and the mass distribution of the produced projectile fragments were estimated using Split-X software. Besides, the ability of the proposed protection layers to stop the fragments and mitigate the blast wave was evaluated using AUTODYN hydrocode. A static firing test was then performed to validate the theoretical results and verify the effectiveness of the proposed protection added layers. The current study showed that the proposed composite layers are sufficient to protect the military shelters from the mortar’s destroying ballistic effects.

Author Biographies

Tamer Abd Elshenawy, Technical Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

Dr Tamer Elshenawy obtained his PhD from the University of Manchester, U K, in 2012. He has been working in the field of research in weapons, ammunition and explosives as well as rocket propulsion. Current researches including shaped charges design and developments as well as explosive manufacturing
technologies.
In the current study, his contribution was Autodyn, split-X calculations and some of the experimental measurements.

Mohamed Aboel Seoud, Technical Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

Dr Mohamed Abdelkhalik Aboelseoud received his PhD in civil engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Current researches including hybrid composite beam bridges, behavior and analysis of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, durability of FRP composites, blast mitigation, ballistic armours, electrically conductive cement-based materials, and structural analysis.
In the current study, his contribution was Autodyn calculations and supervision of the experimental trial design.

G. M. Abdo, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

Dr G.M. Abdo received his PhD in Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Ni-Mo Sintered Steel, from the Military Technical College, Egypt. Presently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. He was senior researcher at the Military Technical Research Centre, Cairo. He has contributed to several research projects in the field of material science, composite structure, design and implementation of mechanical systems, and protection
systems.
In the current study, his contribution was the experimental measurements, design and assessment.

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