Effect of warhead shape on the high‐velocity impact of short carbon fiber reinforced <scp>PEEK</scp> composite

Abstract To investigate the mechanical response and failure mechanism of short carbon fiber reinforced polyether‐ether‐ketone (SCFR‐PEEK) composite under high‐velocity impact of foreign bodies of different shapes, high‐velocity impact experiments and numerical simulations of SCFR‐PEEK composite were carried out with blunt projectile, hemispherical projectile, and ovoid projectile in the velocity range of 33.6 ~ 163.8 m/s. The results show that the ballistic limit of the ovoid projectile is the highest and the hemispherical projectile is the lowest in the range of impact velocities studied. The impact resistance of the ovoid projectile is better than that of the blunt projectile. The hemispherical projectile has the weakest impact resistance at lower velocities, and it is rather better than that of the blunt projectile and ovoid projectile at higher velocities. The damage morphology and change trend of the target plate under the impacts of different warheads are different. In addition, the use of Extended Drucker‐Prager models can accurately describe the mechanical behavior of SCFR‐PEEK under high‐velocity impact. The results of experiments and numerical simulations corroborate with each other, revealing the influence laws of the shape of the warhead and the impact velocity on the impact resistance and failure mechanism of the SCFR‐PEEK target plate. Highlights T700 short carbon fiber‐reinforced PEEK thermoplastic composite was used. SCFR‐PEEK shows the best resistance to ovoid projectile impact. Cracking and spalling of SCFR‐PEEK consume the impact energy. The form of damage in SCFR‐PEEK affects the amount of energy absorption.