Empirical study of the high velocity impact energy absorption characteristics of shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated Kevlar fabric

This investigation aims to study the efficiency of STF impregnated plain-weave fabric made of Kevlar under high and low velocity impact conditions. The shear thickening fluid (STF) was prepared by ultrasound irradiation of silica nanoparticles (diameter ≈30 nm) dispersed in liquid polyethylene glycol polymer. STF impregnation effect was determined from single yarn pull-out test and penetration at low velocity using drop weight machine equipped with hemi-spherical penetrator and dynamic force sensor. Force-displacement curves of neat and impregnated Kevlar were analysed and compared. Also, the STF impregnation effect on Kevlar multilayers was analysed from high velocity impact tests using 9mm FMJ bullet at 390 m/s. After impact, Back face deformation (BFD) of neat and impregnated Kevlar layers were measured and compared. Results showed that STF impregnated fabrics have better energy absorption and penetration resistance as compared to neat fabrics without affecting the fabric flexibility. When relative yarn translations are restricted (e.g. at very high levels of friction), windowing and yarn pull-out cannot occur, and the fibres engaged with the projectile fail in tension that leads to fabric penetration. Microscopy of these fabrics after testing have shown pitting and damage to the Kevlar filaments caused by the hard silica particles used in the STF. Mesoscopic 3D Finite Element models were developed using explicit LS-DYNA hydrocode to account for STF impregnation by employing the experimental results of yarn pull-out tests, low and high velocity impacts. It was found that friction between fibers and yarns increase the dissipation of energy upon impact by restricting fiber mobility, increasing the energy required for relative yarn translations and transferring the impact energy to a larger number of fibers.

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Rheometry of novel shear thickening fluid and its application for improving the impact energy absorption of p-aramid fabric

Thin-Walled Structures ◽

10.1016/j.tws.2020.106954 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 155 ◽

pp. 106954

Author(s):

Aranya Ghosh ◽

Abhijit Majumdar ◽

Bhupendra Singh Butola

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Impact Energy ◽

Shear Thickening ◽

Shear Thickening Fluid ◽

Aramid Fabric ◽

The Impact

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Functionalization of silica particles to tune the impact resistance of shear thickening fluid treated aramid fabrics

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c7ra09834k ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (78) ◽

pp. 49787-49794 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

K. Talreja ◽

I. Chauhan ◽

A. Ghosh ◽

A. Majumdar ◽

B. S. Butola

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Impact Energy ◽

Impact Resistance ◽

Shear Thickening ◽

Silica Particles ◽

Modified Silica ◽

Shear Thickening Fluid ◽

Aramid Fabrics ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

Kevlar fabrics treated with MTMS modified silica based STF showed better impact energy absorption as compared to APTES modified and control silica based STF treated fabrics, attributed to changes in interactions between fabrics and silica particles.

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Rheological and energy absorption characteristics of a concentrated shear thickening fluid at various temperatures

International Journal of Impact Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2020.103525 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 103525

Author(s):

Kunkun Fu ◽

Hongxu Wang ◽

Y.X. Zhang ◽

Lin Ye ◽

Juan P. Escobedo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Shear Thickening ◽

Shear Thickening Fluid ◽

Absorption Characteristics

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Numerical Modeling of Energy Absorption Behaviour of Aluminium Foam Cored Sandwich Panels with Different Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Facesheet Skins

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.852.66 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 852 ◽

pp. 66-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Nalla Mohamed ◽

D. Ananthapadmanaban ◽

M. Selvaraj

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

High Velocity ◽

Sandwich Panels ◽

Aluminium Foam ◽

Foam Core ◽

High Velocity Impact ◽

Velocity Impact ◽

Reinforced Polymer ◽

Fibre Reinforced Polymer ◽

The Impact

Sandwich structures based on Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) facesheet skins bonded with low density aluminium foam core are increasing in use in aerospace and marine industries. These structures are very sensitive to high velocity impact during the service. Therefore, it is necessary to study the energy absorption of the structures to ensure the reliability and safety in use. Experimental investigation of these transient events is expensive and time-consuming, and nowadays the use of numerical approaches is on the increase. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop a numerical model of sandwich panels with aluminium foam as a core and Glass, Carbon and Kevlar Fibre Reinforced polymer composite as faceplate, subjected to high velocity impact using ABAQUS/Explicit. The influence of individual elements of the sandwich panel on the energy absorption of the structures subjected to high velocity impact loading was analysed. Selection of suitable constitutive models and erosion criterion for the damage were discussed. The numerical models were validated with experimental data obtained from the scientific literature. Good agreement was obtained between the simulations and the experimental results. The contribution of the face sheet, foam core on the impact behaviour was evaluated by the analysis of the residual velocity, ballistic limit, and damaged area.

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