Tensile Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar for Design and Characterization of Next Generation Heterogeneous Meso-Architectured Composite Armor Materials
Abstract
Development of new structural materials with unprecedented properties (stronger, tougher, lighter) is critical to address the modernization priorities for the Army. Current state-of-the-art body armor systems are primarily made of ceramics and fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials with homogeneous microstructures and properties. While heterogeneous at the micro-scale, traditional unidirectional fiber composites are homogeneous at the ply-level (meso-scale) with material properties independent of in-plane spatial coordinates. The major limitation is its limited dynamic toughness, poor damage diffusion/damage tolerance capability and the inability to sufficiently redistribute stresses resulting in strength-stiffness-toughness performance trade-offs leading to overdesign of armor systems. On the other hand, biological and biomimetic materials exhibit remarkable dynamic strength and toughness through multiple toughening mechanisms due to a combination of size-effects and complex structural hierarchy with spatially heterogeneous properties. Inspired by nature, introducing process-induced (automated fiber placement, 3D printing) novel architectures is a modern paradigm to develop damage-tolerant materials by designing new heterogeneous meso-scale architectures through a merger of material and structure in fiber composites. However, design of meso-scale architectural features requires a fundamental understanding of high strain-rate (HSR) damage propagation mechanisms in order to quantify processing-structure-property relationships. We propose to establish the technical foundation for high throughput characterization and discovery of heterogeneous fiber-reinforced polymer matrix meso-architectured composite (MAC) armor materials through acquisition of state-of-the-art tensile split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) that will provide unprecedented capability to design and characterize these complex materials. Together with existing high performance computational capabilities, manufacturing facilities and dynamic impact testing laboratories (shared memory cluster, high speed cameras, multimaterial 3D printer, gantry-based industrial-scale AFP, autoclave, hot press, compression SHPB), acquisition of the proposed tensile SHPB will allow us to establish new knowledge and improve capabilities towards design of novel composite materials for enhanced ballistic impact performance through improved understanding of high strain rate (HSR) deformation/damage/failure mechanisms in heterogeneous composites. The proposed equipment will establish new research capabilities, significantly enhance investigators? currently funded ARL research, and currently proposed research to ARO. The proposed tensile SHPB system will establish a new high throughput digital image correlation (DIC)-explicit dynamic finite element method (EFEM) material characterization capability that will allow for spatio-temporal rapid characterization of material and fracture behavior in heterogeneous materials to support research enabling ultra-lightweight soldier protection systems improving the mobility and survivability of personnel. Furthermore, the proposed equipment will contribute towards (1) understanding of HSR interlaminar and intralaminar shear response of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites; (2) fundamental understanding of HSR deformation/damage propagation mechanisms in this new family of meso-architectured fiber composites; and (3) validating physics-based and ML models to design composite architectures with unprecedented ballistic performance for army applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 09, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310348
Entities
People
- Subramani Sockalingam
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of South Carolina