Fiber inclination model for finite element analysis of three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite under ballistic penetration

A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model is created from finite element code LS-DYNA to simulate the ballistic penetration of a hemispherical cylindrical steel projectile into a 3D angle-interlock woven composite (3DAWC). ‘Fiber inclination model’ [Yang JM, Ma CL and Chou TW. Fiber inclination model of three-dimensional textile structural composites. J Compos Mater 1986; 20(9): 472—484] is employed to decompose the composite to four inclined unidirectional laminae which have the same fiber volume fraction and thickness as the 3DAWC. The commercial finite element code LS-DYNA is used to simulate the ballistic penetration of 3DAWC. The residual velocity of the projectile after perforating the 3DAWC panel is calculated. Comparing the simulated residual velocity of the projectile and the damage morphology of the 3DAWC with those of experimental results, we found that the ‘fiber inclination model’ for finite element analysis of the 3DAWC under ballistic penetration is valid and reasonable in ballistic impact simulation. Such an effort could be extended to the ballistic performance design of the 3DAWC in a simplified way.