scholarly journals Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Projectile Nose Shape on the Deformation and Energy Dissipation Mechanisms of the Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Composite

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4208
Author(s):  
Yonghua Shen ◽  
Yangwei Wang ◽  
Zhaopu Yan ◽  
Xingwang Cheng ◽  
Qunbo Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Specific Energy ◽  
Ballistic Performance ◽  
Specific Energy Absorption ◽  
Ballistic Resistance ◽  
Nose Shape ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight ◽  
Uhmwpe Composite

The effect of projectile nose shape on the ballistic performance of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite was studied through experiments and simulations. Eight projectiles such as conical, flat, hemispherical, and ogival nose projectiles were used in this study. The deformation process, failure mechanisms, and the specific energy absorption (SEA) ability were systematically investigated for analyzing the ballistic responses on the projectile and the UHMWPE composite. The results showed that the projectile nose shape could invoke different penetration mechanisms on the composite. The sharper nose projectile tended to shear through the laminate, causing localized damage zone on the composite. For the blunt nose projectile penetration, the primary deformation features were the combination of shear plugging, tensile deformation, and large area delamination. The maximum value of specific energy absorption (SEA) was 290 J/(kg/m2) for the flat nose projectile penetration, about 3.8 times higher than that for the 30° conical nose projectile. Furthermore, a ballistic resistance analytical model was built based on the cavity expansion theory to predict the energy absorption ability of the UHMWPE composite. The model exhibited a good match between the ballistic resistance curves in simulations with the SEA ability of the UHMWPE composite in experiments.

Ballistic Performance Evaluation of Kevlar-Glass Fibre Hybrid Composite Laminate against Medium Velocity Impact

2021 ◽  
Vol 1165 ◽  
pp. 47-64
Author(s):  
Saurabh S. Kumar ◽  
Rajesh G. Babu ◽  
U. Magarajan
Keyword(s):  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Specific Energy ◽  
Glass Fibre ◽  
Hybrid Composite ◽  
Composite Laminates ◽  
Areal Density ◽  
Ballistic Performance ◽  
Performance Requirement ◽  
Specific Energy Absorption ◽  
Fabric Composite

In this paper, the post ballistic impact behaviour of kevlar-glass fibre hybrid composite laminates was investigated against 9×19 mm projectile. Eight different types of composite laminates with different ratios of kevlar woven fibre to glass fibre were fabricated using hand lay-up with epoxy matrix. Ballistic behaviour like ballistic Limit (V50), energy absorption, specific energy absorption and Back Face Signature (BFS) were studied after bullet impact. The results indicated that as the Percentage of glass fibre is increased there was a linear increment in the ballistic behaviour. Addition of 16% kevlar fabric, composite sample meets the performance requirement of NIJ0101.06 Level III-A. Since the maximum specific energy absorption was observed in Pure Kevlar samples and the adding of glass fibre increases the weight and Areal Density of the sample, further investigations need to be carried out to utilize the potential of glass fibre for ballistic applications.

Fabrication of Kevlar®-reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composite through microwave-assisted compression molding for body armor applications

2020 ◽  
pp. 073168442095944
Author(s):  
Taresh Guleria ◽  
Nishant Verma ◽  
Sunny Zafar ◽  
Vivek Jain
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Compression Molding ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Impact Testing ◽  
Uniaxial Tensile ◽  
Microwave Assisted ◽  
Uniaxial Tensile Testing ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Kevlar®-reinforced composites are used in high energy absorption applications. In the present work, Kevlar®-reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composites were fabricated through microwave-assisted compression molding. The microwave-assisted compression molding parameters were optimized through trial and error method. Analysis of mechanical behavior of composites was accessed through uniaxial tensile testing, flexural testing, impact testing, and nano-indentation. The fractured specimens were observed using scanning electron microscopy. An increment of 92.2% was observed in the ultimate tensile strength of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/Kevlar® composite compared to neat ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Flexural properties, impact energy absorption rate, and hardness property of the composite were increased by 27.1%, 91.6%, and 4.77%, respectively, compared to pure ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Enhanced mechanical properties may be attributed to unique microwave heating phenomena during microwave-assisted compression molding.

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.

Energy Absorption of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber-Reinforced Laminates at High Strain Rates

2010 ◽  
Vol 34-35 ◽  
pp. 1532-1535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Bin Shi ◽  
Ying Sun ◽  
Li Chen ◽  
Jia Lu Li
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Dynamic Mechanical Properties ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Uhmwpe Fiber ◽  
Polyethylene Fiber ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Some dynamic compressive tests about Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber-reinforced laminated Composites have been done using SHPB experimental system．The stress-strain curves of UHMWPE Fiber-reinforced Composites of three different laminated angles (0/90°, 0/90/45/-45°, 0/90/30/-60/60/-30°) are obtained at higher strain rates and their dynamic mechanical properties are also investigated at the same time．Based on all the stress-strain curves obtained, the characteristics of energy absorption of UHMWPE fiber angle-plied composites are analyzed and discussed．It is found that laminated angle has made little effect on the dynamic energy absorption of composites at higher strain rates．In addition，delamination and compaction in the thickness direction constitute the main dynamic failure mechanisms, which are studied by means of image analyses for the specimens after compression.

The structural effects on the impact response of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene plain weaves

2020 ◽  
pp. 004051752096672
Author(s):  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Ziming Xiong ◽  
Zhongwei Zhang ◽  
Zhongmin Deng
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Impact Load ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Woven Fabrics ◽  
Impact Response ◽  
Pull Out ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

This paper investigates the penetration and energy absorption mechanisms of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene plain weaves with different fabric properties. Impact tests along with finite element (FE) analysis were used to study the impact response of the fabrics. In this research, the impacting projectile did not cause any fiber or yarn failure on the samples. It was found that structural parameters determine the yarn pull-out behavior and the softness of the resultant fabrics. Fabrics formed by loosely interlaced yarns tend to exhibit higher softness and less resistance against yarn pull-out. When the projectile velocity is not sufficient to initiate yarn pull-out, material softness determines the depth of the backface signature on the clay witness. This trend is more pronounced in a multi-ply fabric system than in a single-ply system; when yarn pull-out occurs, the projectile-slowing mechanism depends on the frictional force between the warp and weft yarns. Therefore, fabric softness becomes less important, and the yarn pull-out behavior of the fabric plays a predominant role in energy absorption. FE prediction showed that tightly woven fabrics exhibit a larger area of stress distribution and material deformation than those with severe yarn pull-out and, consequently, these tight fabrics tend to absorb more kinetic energy and sustain higher impact load from a projectile.

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