| The considerable mass of armour composed of conventional materials has stimulated research into lightweight alternatives. Candidates include nanocrystalline metals, whose strength-to-weight ratios are superior to their polycrystalline counterparts. However, their potential for armour has not been previously explored in the open literature.; Finite element analysis has become a popular tool to predict armour response. Nevertheless, literature on large deformation, high strain rate modeling is scarce. In this investigation, three finite element formulations were evaluated using the hydrocode LS-DYNA. Comparisons with experimental results are presented for each. The arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation was best suited, owing to its appropriate handling of large deformation.; Simulations were also conducted to locate trends for material selection. A parametric study revealed that maximizing solidus temperature and heat capacity significantly improved penetration resistance. As well, comparisons of nanocrystalline nickel by grain size suggested that toughness had a greater effect on penetration resistance than strength alone. |
