In this paper, penetration of one-, two-, three-, four-, six- and twelve-layered Weldox 460 E steel plates in the same total thickness of 12mm and 24mm by hemispherical-nosed cylindrical projectiles are studied numerically. The circular targets of Weldox 460 E have a diameter of 500 mm and the hemispherical-nosed projectiles are machined Arne tool steel cylinders with a mass of 0.197 kg which are hardened to 53RC. The multi-layered targets are simulated as layers are in-contact and no gap was assumed between them. Tests are carried out using LS-DYNA finite element code. The ballistic limit velocities are obtained and effect of number of layers on the ballistic limit velocity for each of 12mm and 24mm thickness targets is investigated. Results show that in the increase of the number of layers, targets have lower ballistic limit velocities in the in-contact situation in the same total thickness of 12mm and in 24mm thickness targets, increase of number of layers leads to higher ballistic limit velocity in two-layered and three-layered targets and lower ballistic limit velocities in four-, six, and twelve-layered targets.
