Experimental and numerical analysis of ballistic impact and material characterization of GFRP and Kevlar 29/epoxy composite laminate

Through experimental testing and numerical simulations, this study examines the effects of ballistic events on thin FRP composite laminated plates fabricated using a hand lay-up method. Experimental ballistic impact tests using a pneumatic gun are conducted on composite plates reinforced with woven glass and woven Kevlar 29 fibers. An advanced three-dimensional finite element model programed in Ansys/Autodyn v19.1 is employed to verify the experimental findings and analyze the ballistic perforation characteristics of the target. The crucial material constants needed for the constitutive material model used in the simulation are acquired through precise experimentation on samples prepared from the fabricated laminates. Significant agreement is observed between the FE simulations and experimental findings, particularly concerning the assessment of residual velocities of the projectile and damage pattern in the laminates. The results of this study show that when subjected to ballistic impact by a flat-ended cylindrical projectile, the thin woven FRP composite primarily experiences damage characterized by delamination, fiber breakage and matrix cracking. Additionally, based on current simulations, it is observed that the ballistic limit velocity of the Kevlar 29/epoxy laminate exceeds that of GFRP by 25.64% when both materials have an equal thickness of 2.8 mm.