Virtual ballistic impact testing of Kevlar soft armor: Predictive and validated finite element modeling of the  V 0 - V 100  probabilistic penetration response

Nilakantan, Gaurav; Horner, Suzanne; Halls, Virginia; Zheng, James

doi:10.1016/j.dt.2018.03.001

Cited by 32 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…It is concerned with improving the ballistic protective performance of a multiple ply soft armour system by selectively stacking dissimilar layers within the system. Literature indicates that the holistic ballistic performance of armour systems can be influenced by the constituent fabric properties but few studies capture trends in the fundamental impact response with these various properties [18,20,21] with most recent studies focusing on specific fabrics or modelling of them [22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimization of soft armor: the response of single-ply para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabrics under ballistic impact

Ralph

Baker

Archer

et al. 2020

Textile Research Journal

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Typical soft armor systems are constructed of multiple layers of a single fabric type. This empirical research sought to begin optimization of these systems through hybridization, sequencing dissimilar armor fabrics to maximize their ballistic protective performance, by first investigating single plies with a spectrum of properties to determine their behavior and response to impact. Eight individual plain weave fabrics with varying yarns and thread counts were manufactured from para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) yarns and physical and ballistic characterizations were conducted. The ballistic impact tests established the specific energy absorption (SEA) of each fabric across a range of impact velocities (340–620 m·s–1) and the transverse displacement wave velocity across the rear of the fabric was found using digital image correlation. Low cover factor ( Cfab) fabrics (0.74–0.84) consistently showed faster transverse wave speed than the high Cfab fabrics (0.84–0.96) for any given yarn type. The relative SEA of the fabrics varied dependent on both the impact velocity and number of plies impacted. It was found that lower Cfab fabrics had the highest SEA, critical velocity and transverse wave velocity. UHMWPE fabrics were not considered suitable for a woven hybrid system as they had a significantly lower SEA compared to all the para-aramid fabrics. Results indicate that a hybrid system, when considered as a theoretical spaced system, would benefit from higher Cfab fabrics as rearward layers. However, transverse wave results suggest the lower response of these fabrics may inhibit lower Cfab fabrics at the front of a combined hybridized system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The literature indicates that the holistic ballistic performance of armor systems can be influenced by the constituent fabric properties, but few studies capture trends in the fundamental impact response with these various properties, 18,20,21 with most recent studies focusing on specific fabrics or the modeling of them. [22][23][24]…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of soft armor: the response of single-ply para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabrics under ballistic impact

Ralph

Baker

Archer

et al. 2020

Textile Research Journal

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“…From a framework development perspective, it should be noted that a key ingredient to the success of this work stems from the generation of a comprehensive experimental test database (microstructure, material, performance) and a tightly integrated set of experiments and models, ensuring a consistent and seamless flow of data and insights back and forth between models and experiments. While this article has presented experimental validation of the probabilistic computational framework for one impact scenario (namely, fully clamped, single-ply fabric target impacted by a spherical projectile), Nilakantan et al (2018) has extended this framework for a very similar impact scenario that used a 0.22cal, 17-gr fragment-simulating projectile (FSP) and once again the model accurately predicted the experimental V 0 -V 100 curve. This framework can readily be extended to other continuousfilament weave architectures composed of materials such as UHMWPE (Spectra, Dyneema) and aramid (Kevlar, Twaron) that are impacted by different projectiles and bullets.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Nilakantan

2018

International Journal of Protective Structures

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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.

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“…Muflahi et al [18] evaluated the capabilities of different element formulations and cohesive fracture models for delamination prediction of thin composite structures, using the commercial software LS-DYNA. Nilakantan [19] conducted the virtual ballistic impact testing of Kevlar soft armor in LS-DYNA and presented a fully validated and predictive probabilistic penetration modeling of a woven fabric through utilizing a finite element model with individually modeled yarns. However, for braided composites with more complicated fabrics architecture, the homogeneous ply-based modeling approach may lose the heterogeneous characteristics of the material.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finite Element Study on the Impact Resistance of Laminated and Textile Composites

Xing

et al. 2019

Polymers

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The impact resistance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is a critical concern for structure design in aerospace applications. In this work, experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact performance of four types of composite panels, using a gas-gun test system. Computational efficient finite element models were developed to model the high-speed ballistic impact behavior of laminate and textile composites. The models were first validated by comparing the critical impact threshold and the failure patterns against experimental results. The damage progression and energy evolution behavior were combined to analyze the impact failure process of the composite panels. Numerical parametric studies were designed to investigate the sensitivity of impact resistance against impact attitude, including impact deflection angles and projectile deflection angles, which provide a comprehensive understanding of the damage tolerance of the composite panels. The numerical results elaborate the different impact resistances for laminate and textile composites and their different sensitivities to deflection angles.

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Virtual ballistic impact testing of Kevlar soft armor: Predictive and validated finite element modeling of the V 0 - V 100 probabilistic penetration response

Cited by 32 publications

References 33 publications

Optimization of soft armor: the response of single-ply para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabrics under ballistic impact

Optimization of soft armor: the response of single-ply para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabrics under ballistic impact

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

Finite Element Study on the Impact Resistance of Laminated and Textile Composites

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