ArmorSim ships three solvers: NORMAL, ADVANCED, and ULTRA. NORMAL uses Alekseevskii–Tate erosion, Recht–Ipson residual velocity, Rosenberg ricochet, and Grady fragmentation. ADVANCED adds layered/spaced arrays, reactive armor packs, and per-layer energy accounting. ULTRA runs an axisymmetric Lagrangian continuum solver with Johnson–Cook plasticity; it is CPU-bound (more physical cores mean shorter solve times) and is limited in Early Access.
NORMAL solver
NORMAL is the entry-tier solver and the right choice for quick iteration. It uses Alekseevskii–Tate erosion to model mass loss along the penetrator, Recht–Ipson residual velocity to estimate remaining velocity after the plate, Rosenberg ricochet for deflection prediction, and Grady fragmentation to model plate breakup. The model is fast, deterministic, and stable across runs.
ADVANCED solver
ADVANCED adds layered/spaced array support, reactive armor pack interactions, and per-layer energy accounting. Choose ADVANCED when the armor stack mixes ceramic with backing, layered plates, or reactive armor packs — physics that NORMAL treats as a single integrated plate.
When to pick each solver
NORMAL
Fast, deterministic erosion/ricochet/fragmentation physics.
Best for: Quick iteration, baseline single-plate solves.
ADVANCED
Adds layered/spaced arrays, reactive packs, per-layer energy.
Best for: Multi-layer or reactive armor stacks.
ULTRA
Axisymmetric Lagrangian continuum with Johnson–Cook plasticity.
Best for: Continuum-grade physics; limited in EA; CPU-bound.
ULTRA CPU scaling
ULTRA scales with physical core count. A six-core or eight-core desktop cuts ULTRA solve times noticeably compared to a quad-core minimum-spec machine. If you only intend to use NORMAL and ADVANCED, the minimum-spec CPU is the gating check; if you intend to run ULTRA repeatedly, prioritize physical core count.
FAQ
Which ArmorSim solver is the default?
NORMAL is the entry-tier solver and is recommended for the first run. It uses Alekseevskii–Tate erosion, Recht–Ipson residual velocity, Rosenberg ricochet, and Grady fragmentation.
What is the difference between NORMAL, ADVANCED, and ULTRA?
NORMAL covers erosion, residual velocity, ricochet, and fragmentation. ADVANCED adds layered/spaced arrays, reactive armor packs, and per-layer energy accounting. ULTRA adds an axisymmetric Lagrangian continuum solver with Johnson–Cook plasticity and is limited in Early Access.
Is ULTRA mode limited in Early Access?
Yes. ULTRA runs an axisymmetric Lagrangian continuum solver with Johnson–Cook plasticity and is described as limited in Early Access. Expect narrower configuration support and longer solve times until EA evolves.