Influence of Fabric Structure of Aramid-Reinforced Polycarbonate Composites on Its Ballistic Resistance Verified by Experiment and Simulation

Abstract

Previous research on the influence of fabric structure on ballistic performance has predominantly concentrated on the pure fabric level. In order to gain an insight into the relationship between fabric structure of composite materials and ballistic resistance, this study investigates the ballistic properties of laminates made by compounding polycarbonate (PC) with four commonly used woven fabrics, namely plain, twill, basket, and satin. The corresponding numerical model has been established, and the damage mechanism is analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the fabric structure with a lower number of interlacing points, namely satin, shows an improvement in energy absorption by 7.1-17.1% compared to other fabric structures with more interlacing points. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of the residual velocity and stress distribution during penetration process by examining the damage morphology of the four types of laminates reveals that woven fabrics with a lower number of interlacing points have a faster stress propagation rate and greater in-plane and transverse strains. This work can provide theoretical guidance for optimizing bulletproof materials and designing fabric structures more efficiently