1. What is Effective Armor Thickness?

Effective armor thickness refers to the apparent thickness of armor plate when it is angled relative to the incoming projectile. The actual protection provided by armor increases when it is sloped because projectiles must travel through more material.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the effective thickness formula:

Where:

• \( Thickness \) — Actual thickness of the armor (mm)
• \( angle \) — Angle of the armor from vertical (degrees)
• \( \cos \) — Trigonometric cosine function

Explanation: The formula accounts for the increased path length a projectile must travel through angled armor. The effect becomes more pronounced as the angle increases.

3. Importance of Effective Thickness Calculation

Details: Calculating effective thickness is crucial for armor design and penetration analysis. It helps determine the actual protection level offered by sloped armor configurations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter armor thickness in millimeters and angle in degrees (0-89.9). The angle should be measured from the vertical axis (0° = vertical armor).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does angle increase effective thickness?
A: Angling armor increases the path length a projectile must travel through the armor, effectively making it "thicker" from the projectile's perspective.

Q2: What's the maximum effective angle?
A: The formula works up to 89.9°. At exactly 90° the effective thickness would theoretically be infinite, but in practice, other factors come into play.

Q3: Does this account for projectile normalization?
A: No, this is a basic geometric calculation. Real-world penetration also depends on projectile characteristics that may cause it to "normalize" (turn toward perpendicular) during penetration.

Q4: How does this apply to curved armor?
A: For curved armor, the effective thickness varies continuously. The calculation would need to be done for each point based on its local angle.

Q5: Is this calculation used in modern armor design?
A: While the basic principle remains, modern composite armors use more complex calculations that account for material properties and layered construction.