Impact energy absorption mechanism of largely deformable composites with different reinforcing structures

Abstract

Impact behaviors of the large deformable composites of Kevlar fiber reinforced composites of different preform structures have been investigated. An analytic tool was developed to characterize the impact behavior of the Kevlar composites. The image analysis technique, and deply technique were employed to develop energy balance equation under impact loading. An energy method was employed to establish the impact energy absorption mechanism of Kevlar multiaxial warp knitted composites. The total impact energy was classified into four categories including delamination energy, membrane energy, bending energy and rebounding energy under low velocity impact. Membrane and bending energy were calculated from the image analysis of the deformed shape of impacted specimen and delamination energy was calculated using the deplying technique. Also, the impact behavior of Kevlar composites under high velocity impact of full penetration of the composite specimen was studied. The energy absorption mechanisms under high velocity impact were modelled and the absorbed energy was classified into global deformation energy, shear-out energy, deformation energy and fiber breakage energy. The total energy obtained from the model corresponded reasonably well with the experimental results.