Optimal nose geometry of the impactor against FRP laminates

A model is proposed for describing the penetration and perforation of monolithic FRP laminates struck transversely by a rigid projectile with an arbitrary shape. The shapes of the impactors with the minimum and the maximum ballistic limit velocities (BLVs) are found analytically. It is shown that the optimal impactor with the minimum BLV has a plane bluntness and its BLV is very close to that for the optimal blunt conical impactor. It is demonstrated that the impactor with the maximum BLV is a flat-nosed cylinder. Comparison of different shapes showed that the advantage of the optimal impactor over the sharp cone and ogive impactors is significant.