ArmorSim's scene editor lets you combine the 14 materials into layered stacks, spaced arrays, reactive armor packs, ceramic with backing, and shaped-charge defense. Reactive armor packs require the ADVANCED solver. The free-form editor accepts any combination; changes to thickness, angle, material, or spacing produce different penetration outputs under all three solvers.
Layered stacks
A layered stack places two or more plates in series. The solver treats each layer as a discrete event; ADVANCED tracks per-layer energy accounting, which is useful when comparing two multi-plate configurations.
Spaced arrays
Spaced arrays separate plates with empty space. The gap gives the penetrator room to yaw, deform, or shed velocity before hitting the next plate. Spaced arrays are sensitive to plate spacing — too close and they act as one plate, too far and the configuration wastes material.
Reactive armor packs
Reactive armor packs use the reactive armor material from the 14-material set. They require the ADVANCED solver to model correctly; NORMAL treats them as a single integrated plate, which produces misleading outputs.
Ceramic with backing
Ceramic with backing pairs a ceramic face plate with a ductile backing layer. The ceramic breaks up the penetrator; the backing catches fragments. Ceramic with backing is one of the documented 14 materials and is modeled correctly under all three solvers.
Shaped-charge defense
Shaped-charge defense is configured as a dedicated defense layer for shaped-charge jets at normal incidence. Place it at a distance from the base armor so the jet has time to destabilize before hitting the primary plate.
FAQ
Which solver handles reactive armor packs?
ADVANCED supports reactive armor packs and per-layer energy accounting. Use ADVANCED — not NORMAL — when the stack includes reactive armor packs or spaced arrays.
What is a good first spaced-armor configuration?
Start with two RHA plates separated by an air gap. Spacing alone changes the penetration outcome, so a two-plate spaced array is the cleanest way to read the effect before adding ceramic or reactive layers.
Are shaped charges modeled at normal incidence?
Yes. ArmorSim models shaped-charge jets at normal incidence in the scene editor. Build the defense at normal incidence first, then experiment with off-normal angles.