Ballistic penetration of conically cylindrical steel projectile into 3D orthogonal woven composite: a finite element study at microstructure level

Ballistic penetration of conically cylindrical steel projectile into 3D orthogonal woven composite (3DOWC) was investigated from finite element analyses and ballistic impact tests. Based on the observation of the microstructure of the 3DOWC, a microstructure model was established for finite element calculation. In this model, the cross-section of warp, weft and Z-direction fiber tows was regarded as rectangular. The noninterwoven warp and weft yarns were bonded together with Z-yarns. The impact damage and energy absorption of the 3DOWC penetrated by a conically cylindrical steel projectile were calculated from the microstructure model and compared with the testing results. Good agreements with experiments have been observed, especially for deformation, damage evolution, and strain wave distribution in the 3DOWC under ballistic penetration.