Experimental and numerical analysis of high and low velocity impacts against neat and shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated weave fabrics

This investigation aims to study the efficiency of STF impregnated plain-weave fabric made of Kevlar under high and low velocity impact conditions. The shear thickening fluid (STF) was prepared by ultrasound irradiation of silica nanoparticles (diameter 30 nm) dispersed in liquid polyethylene glycol polymer. STF impregnation effect was determined from single yarn pull-out test and penetration at low velocity using drop weight machine equipped with hemi-spherical penetrator and dynamic force sensor. Force -displacement curves of neat and impregnated Kevlar were analysed and compared. Also, the STF impregnation effect on Kevlar multilayers was analysed from high velocity impact tests using 9mm FMJ bullet at 390 m/s. After impact, Back face deformation (BFD) of neat and impregnated Kevlar layers were measured and compared. Results showed that STF impregnated fabrics have better energy absorption and penetration resistance as compared to neat fabrics without affecting the fabric flexibility. When relative yarn translations are restricted (e.g. at very high levels of friction), windowing and yarn pull-out cannot occur, and the fibres engaged with the projectile fail in tension that leads to fabric penetration. Microscopy of these fabrics after testing have shown pitting and damage to the Kevlar filaments caused by the hard silica particles used in the STF. Mesoscopic 3D Finite Element models were developed using explicit LS-DYNA hydrocode to account for STF impregnation by employing the experimental results of yarn pull-out tests, low and high velocity impacts. It was found that friction between fibers and yarns increase the dissipation of energy upon impact by restricting fiber mobility, increasing the energy required for relative yarn translations and transferring the impact energy to a larger number of fibers.