2024 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2024 Volume 8. Monteiro Intl. Symp / Composite, Ceramic and Nano Materials Processing
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, P. Assis, H.A.C. Lopera, S. Diaz, V. Scarpini Candido |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Pages: | 288 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-998384-18-1 (CD) |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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DEVELOPMENT OF STITCHED THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPOSITES FOR BALLISTIC ARMOR APPLICATIONS
Lucas Reis1; Sarah de Melo1; Sergio Monteiro1;1MILITARY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 163
Topic: 18
Abstract:
Three-dimensional (3D) composites have emerged as a solution to the limitations of two-dimensional (2D) laminates, such as low impact toughness, poor damage tolerance, and high susceptibility to delamination. The fabrication of 3D fibers involves techniques such as weaving, braiding, knitting, Z-pinning, and stitching. The stitching method consists of inserting reinforcing threads, typically made of carbon, glass, or aramid, in the thickness direction. Stitched 3D composites already have significant applications, primarily in the aerospace and aeronautical industries, but they are also being noted in the naval and automotive industries [1]. Under specific configurations, stitching has demonstrated the ability to improve impact resistance at different velocities. An increase in the Charpy impact resistance of 3D composites compared to laminates has been identified [3]. Additionally, an increase in the ballistic impact resistance of woven 3D composites has been observed. This improvement was associated with the stitching's ability to divert the projectile's path. Furthermore, the role of the reinforcing bundles in absorbing deformation energy and preventing interlaminar shear failures was highlighted, ensuring that the fibers reach their maximum tensile strength potential [4].
This study analyzed the configurations of 3D and 2D composites. Samples of aramid fabric fully stitched with aramid bundles were fabricated. Subsequently, all samples were impregnated with epoxy resin using the resin infusion technique. The preliminary results of the test firing of a .45 caliber projectile were promising. Both configurations demonstrated the ability to retain the projectile that struck the plates with 450 Joules. However, the 3D composites exhibited an indentation caused by the projectiles that was smaller than that of the 2D composites. Upon observing the composite, no delaminations were identified in the 3D composite plates, suggesting that the stitching capability contributes to containing the propagation of delamination.