Review on development and ballistic performance of aluminum alloy armor plates

Abstract

Aluminum alloys have been widely employed in armor applications owing to their low density, high specific strength, excellent ductility, superior corrosion resistance, favorable processability, and cost efficiency. This review examines the current research progress and development status of aluminum alloy armor materials. Particular emphasis is placed on summarizing research methodologies, failure mechanisms, and evaluation standards related to the ballistic and impact resistance of these materials. The influences of key factors – including alloy composition, heat treatment condition, material thickness, projectile geometry, and impact parameters – on the impact resistance of aluminum alloys are systematically analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, the review provides a comparative assessment of the failure mechanisms of aluminum alloys, other metallic systems, and non-metallic composites under dynamic loading conditions. Finally, prospective research directions are proposed, highlighting the importance of enhancing the impact resistance of composite armor systems through the optimization of constituent material properties, rational layered structure design, and improved interfacial bonding between layers.