MESOSCALE AND CONTINUUM MODELING OF BALLISTIC IMPACT ON KEVLAR/PHENOLIC COMPOSITE PLATES

Abstract

A woven aramid (Kevlar®)/polyvinyl butyral phenolic composite used in ballistic applications was subjected to ballistic impact tests involving various projectile masses and target panel thicknesses. Two different models were generated to simulate the impact tests. The first model is a mesoscale model in which fibers, the surrounding matrix, and interfaces are represented with separate finite elements and material models. The second model utilizes a continuum-level user material subroutine that utilizes rules of mixtures to relate stresses and strains within the fiber and matrix constituents. Simulations of the ballistic tests were conducted using both the mesoscale and continuum models, and the results were compared to velocity and backface deflection data from the tests. The simulation results suggested that the relatively large void content of the material (~11%) has a significant effect on the resulting impact response.