Logo from Scott Cunningham.
Logo from Scott Cunningham.
tar crack formation occurs in armour plate by the back face tearing apart before the plug of material ahead of the projectile shears out. The material within the plate is ductile enough to resist shearing whereas the back face tears more easily. Once a crack has formed at the apex of the bulge on the back face, this is likely to extend through to the head of the projectile and so reduce the rigidity of the plate in front of the projectile. Further penetration is then likely to proceed by the bending forwards and outwards of petals on the back face.1
The metal remaining in front of the projectile will tend to bend outwards once a star crack has formed. Diagram from 1.
Back petals are normally larger and fewer than front petals, and they may remain attached to the plate or may break away as they are bent back by the projectile.1
Star crack leading to back petal formation. Back petals are normally larger and fewer than front petals. From the private collection of Chris Shillito.
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