Derivation of the material models for ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fiber-reinforced armor-grade composites with different architectures

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mica Grujicic ◽  
Jennifer Snipes ◽  
S. Ramaswami ◽  
Vasudeva Avuthu ◽  
Chian-Fong Yen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Fiber Reinforcement ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Transverse Impact ◽  
Material Models ◽  
Polyethylene Fiber ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Purpose To overcome the problem of inferior through-the-thickness mechanical properties displayed by armor-grade composites based on 2-D reinforcement architectures, armor-grade composites based on 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures have recently been investigated experimentally. Design/methodology/approach The subject of the present work is armor-grade composite materials reinforced using ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers and having four (two 2D and two 3D) prototypical architectures, as well as the derivation of the corresponding material models. The effect of the reinforcement architecture is accounted for by constructing the appropriate unit cells (within which the constituent materials and their morphologies are represented explicitly) and subjecting them to a series of virtual mechanical tests. The results obtained are used within a post-processing analysis to derive and parameterize the corresponding homogenized-material models. One of these models (specifically, the one for 0°/90° cross-collimated fiber architecture) was directly validated by comparing its predictions with the experimental counterparts. The other models are validated by examining their physical soundness and details of their predictions. Lastly, the models are integrated as user-material subroutines, and linked with a commercial finite-element package, in order to carry out a transient non-linear dynamics analysis of ballistic transverse impact of armor-grade composite-material panels with different reinforcement architectures. Findings It is found that the reinforcement architecture plays a critical role in the overall ballistic limit of the armor panel, as well as in its structural and damage/failure response. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first reported attempt to assess, computationally, the utility and effectiveness of 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures for ballistic impact applications.

Unit-cell-based derivation of the material models for armor-grade composites with different architectures of ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fibers

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mica Grujicic ◽  
Jennifer Snipes ◽  
S Ramaswami ◽  
Vasudeva Avuthu ◽  
Chian-Fong Yen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Fiber Reinforcement ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Transverse Impact ◽  
Ballistic Performance ◽  
Material Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight ◽  
Polyethylene Fibers

Purpose – Traditionally, an armor-grade composite is based on a two-dimensional (2D) architecture of its fiber reinforcements. However, various experimental investigations have shown that armor-grade composites based on 2D-reinforcement architectures tend to display inferior through-the-thickness mechanical properties, compromising their ballistic performance. To overcome this problem, armor-grade composites based on three-dimensional (3D) fiber-reinforcement architectures have recently been investigated experimentally. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In the present work, continuum-level material models are derived, parameterized and validated for armor-grade composite materials, having four (two 2D and two 3D) prototypical reinforcement architectures based on oriented ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fibers. To properly and accurately account for the effect of the reinforcement architecture, the appropriate unit cells (within which the constituent materials and their morphologies are represented explicitly) are constructed and subjected to a series of virtual mechanical tests (VMTs). The results obtained are used within a post-processing analysis to derive and parameterize the corresponding homogenized-material models. One of these models (specifically, the one for 0°/90° cross-collimated fiber architecture) was directly validated by comparing its predictions with the experimental counterparts. The other models are validated by examining their physical soundness and details of their predictions. Lastly, the models are integrated as user-material subroutines, and linked with a commercial finite-element package, in order to carry out a transient non-linear dynamics analysis of ballistic transverse impact of armor-grade composite-material panels with different reinforcement architectures. Findings – The results obtained clearly revealed the role the reinforcement architecture plays in the overall ballistic limit of the armor panel, as well as in its structural and damage/failure response. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first reported attempt to assess, computationally, the utility and effectiveness of 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures for ballistic-impact applications.

SiO2 modified graphene oxide hybrids for improving fretting wear performance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaocui Xin ◽  
Yunxia Wang ◽  
Zhaojie Meng ◽  
Fengyuan Yan
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Wear Resistance ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Wear Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modified Graphene Oxide ◽  
Modified Graphene ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the fretting wear performance of ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethene (UHMWPE) with addition of GO and SiO2. Design/methodology/approach In this study, GO were synthesized and SiO2 nanoparticles were grafted onto GO. The effect of nanofiller on fretting wear performance of UHMWPE was investigated. Findings The results indicated that GO was successfully synthesized and SiO2 nanoparticles successfully grafted onto GO. Incorporation of GS was beneficial for the reduction in friction and the improvement in wear resistance of UHMWPE. GO was beneficial for reducing friction coefficient, while SiO2 was good for improving wear resistance. There existed a tribological synergistic effect between GO nanosheet and SiO2 nanoparticles. Research limitations/implications The hybrids of GS were promising nanofiller for improving the fretting wear performance of UHMWPE. Originality/value The main originality of the research is to reveal the effect of GO and SiO2 nanoparticles on fretting behavior of UHMWPE. The result indicated hybrids of GS were promising nanofiller for improving the fretting wear performance of UHMWPE.

The effect of simultaneous fiber surface treatment and matrix modification on mechanical properties of unidirectional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber/epoxy/nanoclay nanocomposites

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (21) ◽  
pp. 2961-2972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mohammadalipour ◽  
Mahmood Masoomi ◽  
Mojtaba Ahmadi ◽  
Zahra Kazemi
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Tensile Strength ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Glycidyl Methacrylate ◽  
Interfacial Adhesion ◽  
Fiber Surface ◽  
Cohesive Failure ◽  
Polyethylene Fiber ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Nonpolar structure of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber leads to a weak interfacial adhesion in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber reinforced epoxy composite. Herein, synchronized fiber and matrix modifications were utilized so as to improve the interfacial adhesion, resulting in promoting mechanical properties of these composites. For this purpose, the surface of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber was chemically treated with glycidyl methacrylate and the epoxy resin was modified through incorporation of different contents of nanoclay. The mechanical properties results showed that individual modification, either fiber or matrix, can just lead to improvements around 36.74% and 10.54% in tensile strength as well as 14.28% and 4.27% in tensile modulus, respectively. However, the ultimate outcome of the study revealed that much higher improvement can be achieved in synergistic attitude. The highest enhancement around 48.31% and 26.76% in tensile strength and modulus were seen for the sample containing glycidyl methacrylate-treated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers as reinforcement and nano epoxy modified with 1 wt.% of nanoclay. Such observation could be attributed to the mechanical interlocking and chemical reaction which were arising from incorporation of nanoclay in matrix and chemical treatment of fiber surface, correspondingly. In this regard, fiber roughness and chemical bonds formed between treated fiber and modified matrix play a key role in improving interfacial adhesion. Moreover, the fractured surface of such composites studied by scanning electron microscope confirmed the mechanical results and showed that much more matrix was adhered to the fiber surface after treatment, indicating cohesive failure.

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