Abstract
This paper presents the results of research on ballistic panels made of polymer–matrix composites (PMCs). The analysis covers two types of composites produced by the authors based on high-density polyethylene (PEHD) and polypropylene (PP) reinforced with aramid fabric. Ballistic tests were carried out with the use of two types of projectile: 0.38 Special, and 9 × 19 Parabellum, which are characterized by different velocity and projectile energy. The study presents the X-ray computed tomography (XCT) analysis for structure assessment of ballistic panels and its impact behavior, further compared to the results of computer simulations conducted using the numerical analysis. The quality of the manufactured panels and their damage caused by a ballistic impact was assessed using a multi-scale geometry reconstruction. The mesoscale XCT allowed the internal composite geometry to be analyzed, as well as a unit cell of the representative volume element (RVE) model to be built. The RVE model was applied for homogenization and finite element (FEA) simulation of projectile penetration through the ballistic panel. The macroscale XCT investigation allowed for the quantitative description of the projectile’s impact on the degree of delamination and deformation of the panels’ geometry.
Highlights
The continuous development of composite materials allows for the improvement of the solutions used to protect people against the undesirable effects of weapons
Due to the large number of factors affecting the quality of X-ray computed tomography (XCT) imaging, it becomes necessary
X-ray tube voltage on the contrast difference indicate the significant impact of changes in the X-ray tube voltage on the contrast difference for objects of similar density, such as polymer–matrix composites (PMCs)
Summary
The continuous development of composite materials allows for the improvement of the solutions used to protect people against the undesirable effects of weapons. The authors deal with the development of the mathematical description of this issue [11,12,13,14] Factors such as the shape, mass, structure, and kinetic energy of the projectile affect the resistance of ballistic panels, and a lot of attention is paid to experimental research that allows the impact of ballistic stroke on the nature of perforation/penetration [15,16,17] and Materials 2020, 13, 5566; doi:10.3390/ma13235566 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials. Aramid fiber-reinforced composites have a number of properties that make them the perfect choice for ballistic panels. They have low curb weight, high specific strength, and a high ability to absorb ballistic impact energy.
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