Numerical modeling and analysis of the ballistic impact response of ceramic/composite targets and the influence of cohesive material parameters

Hybrid ceramic/composite targets are acknowledged to provide effective impact protection against armor piercing projectiles, which is why the research on this topic is continuously developing further. In this work, a nonlinear dynamic finite element (FE) simulation method is developed to systematically explore the ballistic perforation behaviors of hybrid ceramic/woven-fabric reinforced polymer (WFRP) composite when impacted by a non-deformable projectile. The hybrid system is composed by an alumina ceramic plate forming the front surface and glass or carbon WFRP composite back-up plate. The simulations are carried out using ABAQUS/Explicit FE code, wherein three different constitutive material models are formulated and implemented. The Johnson–Holmquist and composite damage models are used for alumina and composite material behaviors, respectively. The brittle fracture and fragmentation of the ceramic plate and the failure criteria based on fracture of fibers or matrices of composite materials during perforation are considered. Besides, interlaminar delamination between composite plies as well as ceramic/composite interfacial decohesion are modeled using a cohesive surface method, and the behaviors of interlayer degradation and failure are described using a traction-separation law. The accuracy of the developed model is validated with available experimental and analytical results. What’s more, the perforation process against the projectile and the ballistic mechanism of each layer in the composite backplate and in the ceramic as well are profoundly explored. Meanwhile, the numerical simulations are used to evaluate the changes of energy of the projectile and ceramic/composite panels. The influence of key parameters, such as interface cohesive properties and friction, on the ballistic performance in terms of energy absorption capability is additionally addressed. For the preliminary and early design phase, the present dynamic model could provide an efficient approach for numerical predictions of ballistic impact responses of the hybrid ceramic/FRP composites.

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Effect of Al alloy back panel on the dynamic penetration and damage characteristics of ceramic composite armors

Materials Express ◽

10.1166/mex.2019.1560 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 723-731

Author(s):

Weilan Liu ◽

Zhou Chen ◽

Tengzhou Xu ◽

Junfeng Hu ◽

Jiaduo Li

Keyword(s):

Ceramic Composite ◽

Composite Layer ◽

Al Alloy ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Damage Characteristics ◽

Composite Armor ◽

Back Panel ◽

Dynamic Penetration ◽

Ceramic Composite Armor ◽

Hybrid Ceramic

This paper mainly focuses on the investigation of dynamic penetration and damage characteristics of a hybrid ceramic composite armor normally impacted by 12.7 mm armor piercing incendiary projectiles. The hybrid ceramic composite armor was composed of a ceramic cylinder layer, a Ti–6Al–4V plate, an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite layer, and an Al alloy panel. Three different areal densities of composite laminates with 82, 87, and 92 kg/m2 were tested. 3D finite element model of the ceramic composite armor was generated in ABAQUS, and the simulation results were employed to study the damage evolution. The effect of alumina ceramic cylinders layer on the ballistic performance and the failure mechanisms of Ti–6Al–4V and UHMWPE after ballistic impact were examined by experimental and simulative results. According to the numerical and analytical models, an optimal thickness range of Al alloy back panel was found in minimizing areal density of the ceramic composite armor.

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Effect of Textile Architecture on Energy Absorption of Woven Fabrics Subjected to Ballistic Impact

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.553.757 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 553 ◽

pp. 757-762 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Cheng Yang ◽

Phuong Tran ◽

Tuan Ngo ◽

Priyan Mendis ◽

William Humphries

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Computational Models ◽

Woven Fabrics ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Impact Testing ◽

Woven Fabric ◽

Dissipated Energy ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Resultant Velocity ◽

Resistance Performance

Woven fabrics are widely used in various protective applications. The effects of different woven architectures (such as plain, basket, twill and satin) on impact resistance performance have not been adequately studied. In this work, high-speed impact testing on single layer plain weave structures has been carried out using a gas gun experimental setup. Ballistic resistance performance of the woven fabric is evaluated based on the resultant velocity of the projectile, as well as the post-mortem failure analysis. Finite element computational models are presented in this research, thereby providing predictive capability for the manufacturer and designer in order to minimise field testing, as well as shedding light on to the damage mechanisms of composite fabrics subjected to ballistic impact. The numerical model is validated with the experimental results in terms of dissipated energy and resultant velocity. Numerical investigation is conducted on other woven structures of identical areal density for comparison, revealing the importance of fabric architecture. The influences of yarn-yarn and yarn-projectile friction properties on the ballistic performance of various textile structures are also presented.

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An energy-based model for ballistic impact analysis of ceramic-composite armors

International Journal of Damage Mechanics ◽

10.1177/1056789511435346 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 145-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

NK Naik ◽

Santosh Kumar ◽

D Ratnaveer ◽

Makarand Joshi ◽

Kiran Akella

Keyword(s):

Kinetic Energy ◽

Ceramic Composite ◽

Impact Analysis ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Matrix Cracking ◽

Tensile Failure ◽

Impact Behavior ◽

Ceramic Plate ◽

Rubber Layer ◽

Backing Plate

An analytical model is presented for the ballistic impact behavior of ceramic-composite armors. The model is based on wave theory and energy balance between the kinetic energy of the projectile and the energy absorbed by different mechanisms. The armor analyzed consists of front composite cover layer, ceramic plate, rubber layer and the composite backing plate. The projectile is cylindrical. The major damage and energy-absorbing mechanisms are compression of the target directly below the projectile, compression in the surrounding region around the point of impact, formation of ring cracks and radial cracks in the ceramic leading to tensile failure, shear plugging, pulverization of the ceramic, tension in the yarns, delamination and matrix cracking in the composite, bulge formation on the back face of the composite backing plate and friction between the target and the projectile. Projectile erosion and deformation are also considered. Kinetic energy, velocity and deceleration of the projectile, distance traveled by the projectile and the contact force are presented as a function of time. Ballistic limit velocity, contact duration and damage progression are also given. Further, solution procedure is presented for the study of ballistic impact behavior of ceramic-composite armors. Analytical predictions are validated with the experimental results. Finally, performance of a typical ceramic-composite armor is presented.

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Behavior of Fiberglass Polymer Composites under Ballistic Impact and Quasi-Static Punch Shear Tests

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.881.300 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 881 ◽

pp. 300-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnys Jony Gomes Fernandes ◽

Wanderley Ferreira de Amorim Jr. ◽

Walter Belarmino Filho ◽

Isac Paiva Guedes ◽

Andréa Lopes Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymer Composites ◽

Polyester Resin ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Woven Fabric ◽

Shear Tests ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Displacement Behavior ◽

Chopped Strand Mat ◽

Materials Used ◽

Internal Fracture

In the last decades, the composite materials were used in the modern ballistic armor systems. Thus, techniques have been developed to predict its mechanical properties, damage mechanisms and strength associated to ballistic impact penetration. The objective of this work was the ballistic impact and quasi-static punch shear behavior of fiberglass polymer composites. The materials used in the experiments were: woven fabric and chopped strand mat E-glass fiber and polyester resin. The composites submitted to ballistic impact and quasi-static punch shear tests had 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 layers and 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, and 20 layers, respectively. A quasi-static punch shear fixture test was developed. The best ballistic performance composite was the 10 layers woven fabric. In quasi-static punch shear test, it was possible to analyze the internal fracture of composites, and the load x displacement behavior was observed.

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Recycling of Titanium Machined Chips as an Energy Absorption Material

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.261-263.717 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 261-263 ◽

pp. 717-720 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yat Choy Wong ◽

Dong Ruan ◽

Sun Yung Kim ◽

Mitchell Sesso

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Polymeric Material ◽

Sandwich Panel ◽

High Energy ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Woven Fabric ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Lightweight Material ◽

Impact Performance ◽

High Energy Absorption

Machined titanium chips are normally recycled as non-ferrous scrap metal, however, one approach is to recycle titanium chips to construct as lightweight sandwich panel with high energy absorption capabilities. The development of advanced ballistic protection systems that are lightweight while still providing superior energy absorption capacities is a challenge. This study reports the ballistic impact performance of sandwich panel made of Kevlar woven fabric and recycled materials, namely, titanium chips. Titanium is a lightweight material compared with steel however possesses much stronger energy absorption. Sandwich panels were constructed using titanium chips, together with layers of Kevlar woven fabric and a polymeric material. The enhancement of Kevlar woven fabric with titanium chips further strengthens sandwich panel especially in ballistic impact performance. Ballistic impact tests using a nitrogen powered gas gun firing projectiles with impact velocities range from 300 - 350 ms-1 was carried out. Bonding of the titanium chips with a polymeric material is crucial for the overall ballistic performance. This study proved that reduction in layers of Kevlar fabric is possible by substitution of lightweight material such as titanium chips as energy absorption materials.

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Characterization and ballistic performance of thin pre-damaged resin-starved aramid-fiber composite panels

Textile Research Journal ◽

10.1177/00405175211013424 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004051752110134

Author(s):

Cerise A Edwards ◽

Stephen L Ogin ◽

David A Jesson ◽

Matthew Oldfield ◽

Rebecca L Livesey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fiber Composite ◽

Plane Deformation ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Image Correlation ◽

Composite Panel ◽

Composite Panels ◽

Micro Computed Tomography ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Low Level ◽

Out Of Plane

Military personnel use protective armor systems that are frequently exposed to low-level damage, such as non-ballistic impact, wear-and-tear from everyday use, and damage during storage of equipment. The extent to which such low-level pre-damage could affect the performance of an armor system is unknown. In this work, low-level pre-damage has been introduced into a Kevlar/phenolic resin-starved composite panel using tensile loading. The tensile stress–strain behavior of this eight-layer material has been investigated and has been found to have two distinct regions; these have been understood in terms of the microstructure and damage within the composite panels investigated using micro-computed tomography and digital image correlation. Ballistic testing carried out on pristine (control) and pre-damaged panels did not indicate any difference in the V50 ballistic performance. However, an indication of a difference in response to ballistic impact was observed; the area of maximal local out-of-plane deformation for the pre-damaged panels was found to be twice that of the control panels, and the global out-of-plane deformation across the panel was also larger.

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Numerical and experimental investigation on 3D angle interlock woven fabric under ballistic impact

Composite Structures ◽

10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.113778 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 266 ◽

pp. 113778

Author(s):

Qingsong Wei ◽

Dan Yang ◽

Bohong Gu ◽

Baozhong Sun

Keyword(s):

Experimental Investigation ◽

Ballistic Impact ◽

Woven Fabric

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Analytical investigation of high-velocity impact on hybrid unidirectional/woven composite panels

Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/0892705715604680 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 545-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

H Shanazari ◽

GH Liaghat ◽

H Hadavinia ◽

A Aboutorabi

Keyword(s):

Cross Sections ◽

Shear Failure ◽

Failure Criteria ◽

Analytical Investigation ◽

Woven Fabrics ◽

Body Armor ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Nonwoven Fabrics ◽

Ballistic Protection ◽

Maximum Tensile Strain

In addition to fiber properties, the fabric structure plays an important role in determining ballistic performance of composite body armor textile. Textile structures used in ballistic protection are woven fabrics, unidirectional (UD) fabric structures, and nonwoven fabrics. In this article, an analytical model based on wave propagation and energy balance between the projectile and the target is developed to analyze hybrid fabric panels for ballistic protection. The hybrid panel consists of two types of structure: woven fabrics as the front layers and UD material as the rear layers. The model considers different cross sections of surface of the target in the woven and UD fabric of the hybrid panel. Also the model takes into account possible shear failure by using shear strength together with maximum tensile strain as the failure criteria. Reflections of deformation waves at interface between the layers and also the crimp of the yarn are modeled in the woven part of the hybrid panel. The results show greater efficiency of woven fibers in front layers (more shear resistance) and UD yarns in the rear layers (more tensile resistance), leading to better ballistic performance. Also modeling the yarn crimp results in more trauma at the backface of the panel producing data closer to the experimental results. It was found that there is an optimum ratio of woven to UD materials in the hybrid ballistic panel.

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Numerical Studies on Microwave Heating of Thermoplastic-Ceramic Composites Supported on Ceramic Plates

Journal of Heat Transfer ◽

10.1115/1.4000948 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 132 (7) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tanmay Basak ◽

Sankaran Durairaj

Keyword(s):

Ceramic Composite ◽

Ceramic Composites ◽

Thermal Runaway ◽

Ceramic Plate ◽

Uniform Heating ◽

Processing Rate ◽

Numerical Studies ◽

Element Simulation ◽

Al2o3 Composite ◽

Alumina Composite

A detailed theoretical analysis has been carried out to study efficient microwave assisted heating of thermoplastic (Nylon 66) slabs via polymer-ceramic-polymer composite attached with ceramic plate at one side. The ceramic layer or plate is chosen as Al2O3 or SiC. The detailed spatial distributions of power and temperature are obtained via finite element simulation. It is found that uniform heating with enhanced processing rate may occur with specific thickness of Al2O3 composite, whereas SiC composite leads to enhanced processing rate with higher thermal runaway for thick Nylon samples attached with Al2O3 plate. SiC composite is effective due to enhanced processing rate, whereas Al2O3 is not effective due to reduced processing rate for thin samples attached with Al2O3 plate. For samples attached with SiC plate, thermal runaway is reduced by SiC composite, whereas that is not reduced by Alumina composite. Current study recommends efficient heating methodologies for thermoplastic substances with ceramic composite to achieve a higher processing rate with uniform temperature distribution.

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