The　ballistic　response　and　failure　mechanisms　during　the　impact　of　a　304　steel-core　projectile　on　a　7B52　laminated　aluminum　alloy　plate　were　investigated.　The　impact　resistance　of　the　target　plate　was　obtained　through　ballistic　testing,　and　a　detailed　analysis　of　the　fracture　mechanism　was　conducted　using　microstructure　characterization.　Furthermore,　an　enhanced　Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman　(GTN)　model　was　employed　to　simulate　the　ballistic　impact　process,　as　well　as　the　initiation　and　propagation　of　fractures.　The　results　revealed　significant　deformation　following　the　impact　of　the　304　steel-core　projectile　on　the　7B52-T6　laminated　plate.　The　target　plate　exhibited　spalling　failure,　shear　failure,　and　ductile　hole　expansion,　with　spalling　failure　being　caused　by　intergranular　fracture　mechanisms.　In　the　high　stress　triaxiality　regions　of　the　7A62　alloy,　intergranular　cracks　are　prone　to　occur,　and　shear　stress　influences　the　expansion　of　the　cracks.　Fragments　following　layer　cracking　adhere　to　the　7A52　layer,　thereby　increasing　the　ballistic　resistance　surface　area.　The　7A52　layer　on　the　rear　side　of　the　target　plate　effectively　absorbed　the　projectile＇s　energy　through　bending　and　stretching　deformation,　thereby　offering　enhanced　protection.　Furthermore,　the　spall　resistance　of　the　7B52　laminated　plate　eliminate　secondary　damage　caused　by　spall　fragments.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd