Experimentally validated predictive finite element modeling of the V0-V100 probabilistic penetration response of a Kevlar fabric against a spherical projectile

Abstract

This work presents the first fully validated and predictive finite element modeling framework to generate the probabilistic penetration response of an aramid woven fabric subjected to ballistic impact. This response is defined by a V 0-V 100 curve that describes the probability of complete fabric penetration as a function of projectile impact velocity. The exemplar case considered in this article comprises a single-layer, fully clamped, plain-weave Kevlar fabric impacted at the center by a 0.22 cal spherical steel projectile. The fabric finite element model comprises individually modeled three-dimensional warp and fill yarns and is validated against the experimental material microstructure. Sources of statistical variability including yarn strength and modulus, inter-yarn friction, and precise projectile impact location are mapped into the finite element model. A series of impact simulations at varying projectile impact velocities is executed using LS-DYNA on the fabric models, each comprising unique mappings. The impact velocities and outcomes (penetration, non-penetration) are used to generate the numerical V 0-V 100 curve which is then validated against the experimental V 0-V 100 curve obtained from ballistic impact testing and shown to be in excellent agreement. The experimental data and its statistical analysis used for model input and validation, namely, the Kevlar yarn tensile strengths and moduli, inter-yarn friction, and fabric ballistic impact testing, are also reported.

Probabilistic modeling of discrete structural response with application to composite plate penetration models

“…Also, the generated PVR curve suggests there is a finite (although very small) probability of penetration at zero impact velocity, and also a finite (again very small) probability of rebound at infinite impact velocity, both of which are physically unrealistic. A lot of work has been done previously in generating the virtual PVR curve by mapping in different intrinsic (for example, yarn tensile strength) and extrinsic (for example, projectile impact location) sources of experimentally characterized variability into fabric finite element (FE) models [34,35,36,37,38]. In some of these studies [37,38] and punch-shear strength.…”

“…A lot of work has been done previously in generating the virtual PVR curve by mapping in different intrinsic (for example, yarn tensile strength) and extrinsic (for example, projectile impact location) sources of experimentally characterized variability into fabric finite element (FE) models [34,35,36,37,38]. In some of these studies [37,38] and punch-shear strength. Thus, varying these strength parameters controls initiation of material softening as well as the total energy dissipation prior to failure under impact loading conditions.…”

Assessing the stab resistive performance of material extruded body armour specimens

“…Throughout history, body armour has been an important protective solution in increasing wearer survivability in life-threatening situations such as stabbing and slashing incidents (Ashdown, 1909;Horsfall, 2000). While historical armour included wood breastplates, treated animal hides, metal riveted plates or chain-mails (Laible and Barron, 1980;Nayak et al, 2018), advancements in material science have led modern armours to be manufactured from engineering grade materials in the form of rigid materials such as metals (Ben-Dor et al, 2012;Paman et al, 2020), polymers (Benzait and Trabzon, 2018;Nayak et al, 2018;Weerasinghe et al, 2020) and ceramics (Pinto et al, 2012;Serjouei et al, 2015), as well as more flexible materials in the form of aramid fibres like Kevlar ® and Twaron ® (Majumdar et al, 2013;Nilakantan, 2018;Yadav et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2015) and shear thickening fluids (Weerasinghe et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2022). Such modern solutions have advanced the protective performance offered by stab resistant body armours (SRBA); however, historical issues, such as health problems due to the ill-fitting of armours, poor thermal and moisture management, as well as their often restrictive and cumbersome nature, continue to exist even with modern SRBA (Arciszewski and Cornell, 2006;Dempsey et al, 2013Dempsey et al, , 2014Majumdar et al, 1997).…”

Incorporation of shear thickening fluid effects into computational modelling of woven fabrics subjected to impact loading: A review

“…Woven fabrics made of high-performance textile fibres in a multi-layered arrangement are an extremely popular choice for lightweight personal body armour (Bhatnagar, 2016;Cavallaro, 2011;Chen, 2016;Crouch et al, 2017;Nilakantan, 2018;Scott, 2005;Sparks, 2012;Yang et al, 2015). Textile fibres are viscoelastic in nature (Fujino et al, 1955;Hall, 1967) and multi-layered arrangements of elastic and viscoelastic materials may be assembled to mitigate pressure and impulse on a system (Rahimzadeh et al, 2015).…”