Ballistic Performance Analysis of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Composite

Ultra-High molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers are among the strongest and lightest fibers available and are widely used in high-performance ballistic applications. Despite the great advancement of computational analysis in recent years, precise calculations have not been performed to identify the failure of these fibers due to the complexity of the material behavior to impact. In this research, using the most advanced finite element modeling method of composites (Abaqus-Explicit) has been used to study the composite behavior of these fibers subjected to high-velocity projectile impact. Fiber and matrix are designed using solid elements and 3D Hashin failure criterion was used to determine the behavior of the material. Since this criterion is not available in Abaqus, the VUMAT subroutine has been used to implement this criterion. Velocity diagrams and damage evaluation have been reported. To evaluate and validate this method, six samples of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Composite panels, consisting of 20 and 45 layers, respectively, were experimentally studied by high-velocity projectiles at different velocities. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results.