Novel hybrid design of composite armour under ballistic impact

Abstract

Novel hybrid design of Kevlar/Basalt/ceramic composite is investigated to improve the ballistic limit of the lightweight composite. Basalt with Kevlar fiber improves the ballistic performance and is considered an optimum stacking with alumina ceramic material to determine the ballistic limit and realistic failure of composites. The partial use of basalt increases natural reinforcement for the development of eco-friendly armours. The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of three-dimensional (3D) basalt fabric hybridization with Kevlar and alumina for different stacking sequences of composite armours. Hybrid composite plates are impacted with 9 mm full metal jacket (FMJ) with different velocities under high-velocity impact (HVI). A constitutive based continuum damage mechanics with high strain rate was developed and implemented based on Yen’s criteria. Cohesive elements are used at inter-layers for modelling the delamination evolution. The constitutive equations are coupled with an element erosion algorithm for the removal of highly distorted elements. 3D finite element (FE) models developed with Abaqus/Explicit as a user-defined subroutine (VUMAT). The FE models are validated with experimental results. Results revealed that the alumina on the front face backing with basalt/Kevlar composite panel (AB2K2) increased ballistic limit by 16.74 %, 21.77 %, 14.25 %, 40.23 % when compared to K-16, B-16, B2-A-K2, B2K2-A panels, respectively.