Experimental and numerical comparisons of ballistic impact behaviors between 3D angle-interlock woven fabric and its reinforced composite

This paper compares the ballistic impact damage behaviors between the three-dimensional angle-interlock woven fabric and its reinforced composite (three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite) under various ballistic strike velocities based on experimental and numerical finite element analysis. In experiments, the residual velocities of projectiles were recorded to compare their ballistic proof properties undergoing different impact loading conditions. Furthermore, the ultimate damage morphologies of both types of materials were also compared to deduce the specific ballistic impact performance and energy absorption mechanisms between the three-dimensional angle interlock woven fabric and three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite. It was found that the three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite has absorbed more energy than the three-dimensional angle interlock woven fabric under the “high” ballistic velocities (higher than 350 m/s). And it shows the opposite phenomena under the “low” ballistic velocities (lower than 350 m/s). In finite element analysis, the simplified finite element models were established for both materials to characterize the critical importance of resin matrix in transferring and dissipating the high velocity impact energy. Especially for three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite, the impact energy was transferred to the large area during a relatively short period of time, thereby resulting in an overall bearing capacity of the composite structure, therefore absorbed most of the impact energy, which was well applied to explain the experimental results.