Ballistic Resistance of Flexible Composite and Textile Targets

Abstract

Advanced textile and flexible composites always used for the containment of high-speed fragmentation. The design of body armours, fragmentation curtains and bomb blankets are end products. In this work, an experimental program is conducted to test a new composite material (3D-weaveTM Kevlar-129/ LINE-X xs-350), which is a two-component spray-in-place flexible 100% solids Polyurea/Polyurethane system. Ballistic response of this new composite is compared to that of (3D-weaveTM) Kevlar-129; the multi-layered targets of the two materials are subjected to impact by small arm projectiles with velocity range of 300-450 m/s. Moreover, a finite element code based on Newtonian formulation is used to predict the nodal acceleration, velocity and displacement. Forces acting on both projectile and target are also predicted. A comparison between experimental results and predictions of the code showed general good agreement in the case of Kevlar targets. The agreement was not quite as good, but still acceptable, for composite targets. The average energy absorbed per one layer of the new composite and Kevlar targets is determined.Predictions show that the composite targets are generally more efficient than the Kevlar targets in defeating impacting projectiles. Finally, post firing examination of Kevlar/line-x targets shows recoverable behaviour and localized damage after the ballistic impact; this means small trauma effect occurred when using this composite as body armour.