Experimental Study on Puncture Resistance of 2D and 3D Glass Fabrics Reinforced with Shear Thickening Fluid

In this study, the quasi-static puncture resistance of neat and shear thickening fluid impregnated Kevlar, 2D, and 3D-glass fabrics were investigated using a universal testing machine. For the synthesis of the shear thickening fluid, silica nanoparticles were dispersed in polyethylene glycol in the mass fraction of 20, 25, 30, and 35 wt%. The influence of the shear thickening fluid concentration on the puncture resistance of the impregnated 3D-glass fabrics was examined and compared with the neat samples. The results revealed the puncture resistance of the impregnated 3D-glass fabrics increased with raising the concentration from 20 to 30 wt% (637 to 688 N). However, the performance of the 35 wt% impregnated sample was reduced (657 N). The 30 wt% impregnated 3D-glass fabric showed the most puncture resistance, such that its peak force (688 N) was 17% higher than the neat case (590 N). The results were compared with those of Kevlar and four-ply 2D-glass fabrics, and it was observed that the 30 wt% effect on the 3D fabrics was more evident than them. Unlike the 2D-glass fabrics, the bending angle (θ) for the 3D-glass fabrics decreased by 10° and as a result, their flexibility lessened. The thickness of the impregnated 2D-glass fabric increased more than the 3D fabrics (27% vs. 4%).