1. What is Effective Armor Thickness?

Effective armor thickness refers to the increased protection provided by angled armor plates. When armor is sloped, the actual path that a projectile must travel through the armor increases, making it effectively thicker than its nominal thickness.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the effective thickness formula:

Where:

• Actual Thickness — Nominal thickness of the armor plate (mm)
• Angle — Angle from vertical at which the armor is sloped (degrees)
• cos(Angle) — Cosine trigonometric function of the angle

Explanation: The formula calculates the increased effective thickness due to armor sloping, which significantly enhances protection against incoming projectiles.

3. Importance of Effective Thickness Calculation

Details: Calculating effective armor thickness is crucial for understanding the actual protective capabilities of armored vehicles. Angled armor allows for lighter vehicles with equivalent protection or better protection with the same weight.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the actual armor thickness in millimeters and the angle from vertical in degrees. The angle must be between 0-89.9 degrees for valid calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is angled armor more effective?
A: Angled armor increases the effective thickness that a projectile must penetrate and increases the chance of deflection or ricochet.

Q2: What's the maximum effective angle?
A: The formula becomes invalid at 90 degrees (cos(90)=0). In practice, angles above 80 degrees provide diminishing returns due to structural and practical limitations.

Q3: Does this apply to all types of armor?
A: The formula works best for homogeneous steel armor. Composite and reactive armor have different ballistic properties that may not follow this simple trigonometric relationship.

Q4: How does armor slope affect vehicle design?
A: Sloped armor allows designers to create vehicles with better protection-to-weight ratios, but it also affects internal space and crew comfort.

Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This calculation provides the geometric effective thickness. Actual ballistic performance also depends on projectile type, velocity, armor material properties, and impact conditions.