Bending properties and numerical analysis of nonorthogonal woven composites

Abstract The helmet shell material featuring a gradient in bending is urgently required for the next-generation integrated helmet system. However, achieving a bending gradient design for orthogonal woven composites on a 3D shell surface is a significant challenge. Here, nonorthogonal woven composites at 30°, 45°, and 60° were fabricated, and their bending properties are discussed. Furthermore, their bending properties are compared to those of plain off-axis woven composites, which indicates that the bending linearity trend of nonorthogonal woven composites is evident. Notably, the bending strength of the 30° and 60° nonorthogonal woven composites is 66.9 and 67.4% higher, respectively, than that of the plain off-axis woven composites, and the bending modulus is 169.8 and 196.9% higher, respectively. Finally, a finite element analysis of the bending properties of nonorthogonal woven composites was conducted, and a stress analysis of the inner layers was also conducted. This work paves the way for designing gradient materials for helmet shells.