Quantitative investigation on ballistic resistance and energy absorption behavior of columnar ceramic/interlayer hybrid fiber composites

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact of hybrid fiber structures on the ballistic performance of columnar ceramic/interlayer hybrid fiber composites. Three hybrid fiber composites and one single fiber‐component composite were fabricated. The accuracy of the numerical model was validated through quantitative analysis of matching micro‐CT images with simulation results. The error of the back convex height (BCH) values between the numerical simulation and the micro‐CT was only 2.8%. The error of delamination area at four thickness positions is only 0.7%, 14.7%, 0.3%, and 5.3%, respectively. The quantitative study on the ballistic performance of ceramic/fiber composites indicates that all hybrid fiber composites provide enhanced penetration resistance, with the sandwich structure outperforming the rest. Compared with the C‐U sample, the bullet's remaining velocity and the BCH in the C‐(A/U/A) sample were significantly improved, with reductions of 195 m∙s−1 and 16.6 mm, respectively. During the penetration process, the ceramic/fiber composites mainly exhibited damage failure mechanisms such as ceramic crushing to form ceramic cones, shear failure, and shear‐tensile‐delamination mixed failure. The energy absorption rate (EAR) of ceramic failure was 54.1%–60.2%, the EAR of tension was 12.5%–20.9%, and the EAR of the tension‐delamination‐shearing mixed model was 21.9%–32.8%.Highlights The numerical model is quantitatively validated with micro‐CT results. Ballistic resistance and EARs in six stages are quantitatively analyzed. C‐(A/U/A) composite has superior ballistic resistance compared to C‐U.