A simplified constitutive model for a SEBS gel muscle simulant - Development and experimental validation for finite elements simulations of handgun and rifle ballistic impacts

Riccardo Andreotti; Valentina Leggewri; Andrea Casaroli; Mauro Quercia; Cristian Bettin; Mauro Zanella; Marco V. Boniardi

doi:10.3221/IGF-ESIS.61.12

A simplified constitutive model for a SEBS gel muscle simulant - Development and experimental validation for finite elements simulations of handgun and rifle ballistic impacts

Authors

Riccardo Andreotti Callens® AREA3, Via Merini 37 21100 Varese, Italy; Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via La Masa 1, 20156 Milano, Italy
Valentina Leggewri Fiocchi Munizioni SPA, Via Santa Barbara 4, 23900 Lecco, Italy
Andrea Casaroli Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via La Masa 1, 20156 Milano, Italy
Mauro Quercia Callens® AREA3, Via Merini 37 21100 Varese, Italy
Cristian Bettin Bettin Engineering, Via Respighi 13, 35132 Padova, Italy
Mauro Zanella Sunnen Italia Srl, Via Marconi 24-B, 20044 Arese (MI), Italy
Marco V. Boniardi Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via La Masa 1, 20156 Milano, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.61.12

Keywords:

wound ballistics, SEBS gel, synthetic muscle simulant, Fackler gelatin, finite element simulation, explicit solver

Abstract

An original simplified constitutive model is proposed to simulate the effects of ballistic impacts on blocks of synthetic muscle simulant based on mineral oil and styrene ethylene-butylene styrene polymers (SEBS) as a convenient substitute for Fackler ballistic gelatin. The model is based on a quasi-static elastic-plastic model associated with hydrodynamic properties regulated by a polynomial equation of state. The paper illustrates the development and experimental validation of the model to simulate 9x21mm FMJ round-nose, 7.62x39 mm FMJ, and 5.56x45 mm NATO bullets penetrating 145x145x400 mm gel blocks. All material parameters are provided to be implemented in built-in LS-Dyna keywords. The validation confirms the effectiveness of the model and suggests possible further developments. The work also confirms the tested synthetic gel as a valid and convenient substitute for Fackler 10% ballistic gelatin at 4 °C.

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Published

19-06-2022

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 61 (2022): July 2022

Section

Analytical, Numerical and Physical Models

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright
Authors are allowed to retain both the copyright and the publishing rights of their articles without restrictions.

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How to Cite

A simplified constitutive model for a SEBS gel muscle simulant - Development and experimental validation for finite elements simulations of handgun and rifle ballistic impacts. (2022). Frattura Ed Integrità Strutturale, 16(61), 176-197. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.61.12