A comparative study on ballistic performance of 3D woven fabrics under different boundary conditions

The potential of 3D woven fabrics as impact resistant material is increasingly recognized. Clarifying their ballistic response under varying boundary conditions is essential prior to deployment. This study aims to investigate the influence of various boundary conditions on the ballistic performance of 3D woven fabrics. Three aramid interlock woven fabrics, each with the same layer count, were designed and fabricated. A verified finite element model of ballistic impact at the yarn level was constructed for a comprehensive analysis. The influence of various boundary conditions on ballistic performance, including ballistic curve, stress distribution, back deformation, and energy absorption, is analyzed. It indicates that boundary conditions significantly affect the impact resistance and response mechanism of the fabrics. Among the different conditions, the fabric under Warp-sides held exhibits greater sensitivity. In the study, the fabric with vertical through-thickness warp yarn structure has smaller out-of-plane displacement, while the fabric with a multi-layer warp yarn structure exhibits better stability in energy absorption performance. The study investigates the response and performance of fabric configurations subject to various boundary conditions, and findings are valuable for the creation of 3D woven fabric designs that leverage boundary effects.