Finite element evaluation of projectile nose angle effects in ballistic perforation of high strength fabric

The projectile nose angle is one of the parameters having a great influence on impact and penetration into high strength fabric. In order to study these effects, a realistic finite element model of TWARON fabric at yarn level is generated with eight node solid elements. LS-DYNA, a commercial finite element code is chosen as the solver. Projectile is assumed to be rigid in the simulations. The yarns, as major load carrying component of the fabric, are set to be transversely isotropic. To allow fracture in the yarns, an erosion algorithm was added to the yarn material. Eleven finite element models were built with nose angle of the projectile ranging from 30° to 180° with and difference of 15°. Simulations are performed and the effects of several parameters including energy absorption, size of the hole made by the projectile and von-Mises stress distribution for different nose angles and time steps are investigated.