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The effect of plain-weaving on the mechanical properties of warp and weft p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibers/yarns

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Abstract

Coarse-grained molecular statics/dynamics methods are first used to investigate degradation in the PPTA fiber/yarn tensile strength, as a result of the prior compressive or tensile loading. PPTA fibers/yarns experience this type of loading in the course of a plain-weaving process, the process which is used in the fabrication of ballistic fabric and flexible armor. The more common all-atom molecular simulations were not used to assess strength degradation for two reasons: (a) the size of the associated computational domain rendering reasonable run-times would be too small and (b) modeling of the mechanical response of multi-fibril PPTA fibers could not be carried out (again due to the limited size of the computational domain). However, all-atom simulations were used to (a) define the coarse-grained particles (referred to as “beads”) and (b) parameterize various components of the bead/bead force-field functions. In the second portion of the work, a simplified finite-element analysis of the plain-weaving process is carried out in order to assess the extent of tensile-strength degradation in warp and weft yarns during the weaving process. In this analysis, a new material model is used for the PPTA fibers/yarns. Specifically, PPTA is considered to be a linearly elastic, transversely isotropic material with degradable longitudinal-tensile strength and the longitudinal Young’s modulus. Equations governing damage and strength/stiffness degradation in this material model are derived and parameterized using the coarse-grained simulation results. Lastly, the finite-element results are compared with their experimental counterparts, yielding a decent agreement.

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Acknowledgements

The material presented in this paper is based on work supported by three Army Research Office sponsored grants entitled “Multi-length Scale Material Model Development for Armor-grade Composites” (Contract Number W911NF-09-1-0513), “Friction Stir Welding Behavior of Selected 2000-series and 5000-series Aluminum Alloys” (Contract Number W911NF-11-1-0207), and “Concept Validation and Optimization for a Vent-based Mine-blast Mitigation System” (Contract Number W911NF-11-1-0518). The authors are indebted to Dr. Ralph A. Anthenien, Jr., and Dr. Bryan J. Glaz of ARO for their continuing support and interest in the present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, 241 Engineering Innovation Building, Clemson, SC, 29634-0921, USA

    M. Grujicic, R. Yavari, J. S. Snipes & S. Ramaswami

  2. Army Research Laboratory – Weapons & Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005-5069, USA

    C.-F. Yen & B. A. Cheeseman

Authors
  1. M. Grujicic
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  2. R. Yavari
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  3. J. S. Snipes
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  4. S. Ramaswami
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  5. C.-F. Yen
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  6. B. A. Cheeseman
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Correspondence to M. Grujicic.

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Grujicic, M., Yavari, R., Snipes, J.S. et al. The effect of plain-weaving on the mechanical properties of warp and weft p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibers/yarns. J Mater Sci 49, 8272–8293 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8536-1

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