Finite element modeling of ballistic inserts containing aramid fabrics under projectile impact conditions – Comparison of methods

Effectiveness of simplified modeling methods of ballistic inserts containing high-strength para-aramid fabrics under projectile impact condition was analyzed in the article. Various types of experimental tests including material characterization and ballistic impact were carried out in order to define and to validate numerical models of the individual components of the analyzed phenomenon. Experiments were subsequently reproduced with numerical simulations. Four different modeling techniques were used to describe the fabric layers, i.e.: shell elements, solid elements merged or detached at shared nodes and beam elements representing packs of individual fibers. The effectiveness of the individual methods was compared in terms of quality (mapping of characteristic phenomena that occur during the penetration process), quantity (dimensions of deformations of components, number of perforated fabric layers) and time required to complete the calculations. On the basis of the analysis results it was concluded that hybrid method of modeling of yarns of the fabric in which principal yarns were modeled with solid elements attached at nodes was the most effective. Such approach allowed to accurately reproduce the response of the yarns to the acting loads without significant increase of time required to complete the calculations.