Finite element simulation of ballistic impact on single jersey knit fabric

Abstract

Knitted fabrics are constructed from interlocking loops of yarn. Curvature in the yarn provides stretchability, making them well suited for garments that will cover areas of the body that require large relative motion. Although most current soft armors are composed of woven textiles, knitted fabrics made of aramid fibers such as Kevlar may have application for use in soft armor to provide a larger range of motion in addition to protection. However, their ballistic performance has not been well characterized. The goal of this work is to develop a computational framework to simulate a single jersey knit under ballistic loading. The path and shape of the yarn in the knit fabric is defined with parametric equations calibrated to CT images of a sample fabric. Results of finite element simulations demonstrate the unique mechanical response of knit soft armor, and show qualitative agreement with ballistic experiments.