Numerical and experimental investigations into the ballistic mechanism of 3D through-the-thickness angle interlock woven fabric

High-performance 3D fabrics have great potential for ballistic protection. This study investigated the ballistic behavior of 3D through-the-thickness angle-interlock woven fabrics (3DTAWF) under the impact of Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) projectiles. A finite element analysis (FEA) of the interaction process of para-aramid Twaron 3DTAWF against a 9 mm bullet was performed in LS-DYNA by considering actual geometries and deformability of the interacting parts. A full-size mesoscale fabric structure model was constructed to capture the ballistic behavior of 3DTAWF accurately. The strain rate effect material model was used to improve computational accuracy. The impact performance was evaluated by analyzing the energy loss of the projectile, back face deformation, and residual velocity for penetrating impact tests. The results revealed the impact damage evolution, energy absorption mechanism, and stress wave distribution in the 3DTAWF. The main goal of this study was to develop a full-size mesoscale fabric model suitable for the simulation of the ballistic interaction of 3DTAWF of actual dimensions using moderate computer resources and satisfactory adequacy. The model is instructive for the 3D fabric design and development for ballistic protection.