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Influences of weaving architectures and impact locations on the ballistic resistance of UHMWPE fabric

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Abstract

This study is devoted to reveal the influence of weaving architectures and impact locations on the ballistic resistance of UHMWPE (ultrahigh high molecular weight polyethylene) fabrics. Firstly, a mesoscopic model of UHMWPE fabric is established and the accuracy of the numerical method is verified. Subsequently, the models with different weaving architectures are further established, and the impact resistance performances are evaluated. Finally, the influence factors on the fabric ballistic resistance is explored. It is proved that the ballistic resistance of UHMWPE fabric mainly dominated by the tensile strength of yarn under high-velocity impact. The plain fabric shows best anti-ballistic performance, while basket and woven fabric are slightly inferior. The damage pattern of fabrics with different weaving architectures changes greatly. In addition, this study proposes a residual impact velocity correction model for projectile based on the probability distribution of impact positions, which can better characterize the protective ability of fiber fabrics.

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Abbreviations

S n(i):

The stress of the element in the direction i

S t(i):

The fracture stress in the direction i

E(X):

The weighted velocity reduction

x k :

The possible value of the velocity reduction

p k :

The corresponding probability that xk occurs

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Numbers 11502180.

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Correspondence to Fang Liu or Yongqiang Zhang.

Additional information

Zihan Zhu is a master degree candidate of Green & Smart River-Sea-Going Ship, Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, China. His research interests include composite materials, impact dynamics.

Fang Liu is an Associate Professor of the School of Trans-portation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China. She received her Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics from Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research interests include elasto-plastic damage constitu-tive relations and structural responses.

Yonggiang Zhang is an Associate Research Fellow in Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics. He got his Master degree from Harbin Institute of Technology and his research interests include shock dynamics of material.

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Zhu, Z., Zhou, H., Kong, X. et al. Influences of weaving architectures and impact locations on the ballistic resistance of UHMWPE fabric. J Mech Sci Technol 36, 6005–6014 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1116-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1116-4

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