Engineering Design of Composite Military Helmet Shells Reinforced by Continuous 3D Woven Fabrics
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Engineering Design of Composite Military Helmet Shells Reinforced by Continuous 3D Woven Fabrics A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences 2016 SHENGNAN MIN School of Materials Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ 7 List of Tables........................................................................................................................ 14 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 16 Declaration ........................................................................................................................... 17 Copyright ............................................................................................................................. 18 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 19 List of publications ............................................................................................................... 20 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 22 Background ................................................................................................................ 22 Description of problem .............................................................................................. 22 Research aims and objectives..................................................................................... 24 Thesis layout .............................................................................................................. 25 Literature review ................................................................................................. 27 Mechanics of composite against ballistic impact ....................................................... 27 2.1.1 Advanced composites.......................................................................................... 27 2.1.2 Responses of composite against ballistic impact ................................................ 28 2.1.3 Damage mechanisms for energy absorption ....................................................... 31 Factors influencing composite ballistic performance ................................................ 33 2.2.1 Mechanical properties of the constituents ........................................................... 33 2.2.2 Fabrication of fibre reinforcements ..................................................................... 38 2.2.3 Geometry of projectile ........................................................................................ 46 2 Fabric mouldability .................................................................................................... 47 2.3.1 Fabric deformation behaviour during moulding ................................................. 48 2.3.2 Locking angle method based on the pin-joint model .......................................... 49 Design and evaluation of composite military helmets ............................................... 53 2.4.1 Brief history of military helmet........................................................................... 53 2.4.2 Test standards ...................................................................................................... 55 2.4.3 Design aspects of military helmet ....................................................................... 56 2.4.4 Manufacturing techniques for military helmet shell ........................................... 60 2.4.5 Numerical evaluation the impact performances of military helmet shell ........... 65 2.4.6 Implications for future military helmet design ................................................... 67 Remarks ..................................................................................................................... 68 Study on the effect of reinforcement continuity on the ballistic performance of multiply composites ............................................................................................................. 70 Manufacturing of thick composite panels with modified vacuum bagging method .. 71 3.1.1 Reinforcement ..................................................................................................... 71 3.1.2 Resin .................................................................................................................... 73 3.1.3 Vacuum bagging setup ........................................................................................ 74 Characterisation of composite specimens .................................................................. 76 3.2.1 Measurement of composite density ..................................................................... 77 3.2.2 Measurement of fibre volume fraction ................................................................ 77 Experimental evaluation of the ballistic performance of discontinuously and continuously reinforced composites ................................................................................. 78 3.3.1 Experimental methods ......................................................................................... 79 3 3.3.2 Results and discussion ........................................................................................ 85 Summary .................................................................................................................... 95 Study on 3D woven wadded through-the-thickness angle-interlock (TTAI) fabrics ................................................................................................................................... 96 3D woven TTAI fabrics ............................................................................................. 96 4.1.1 Classification of TTAI fabrics ............................................................................ 96 4.1.2 Wadded TTAI fabrics ......................................................................................... 98 Characterisation of TTAI ......................................................................................... 100 4.2.1 Weave specifications ......................................................................................... 101 4.2.2 Geometric parameters ....................................................................................... 101 4.2.3 Structural parameters ........................................................................................ 107 Design and production of TTAI fabrics ................................................................... 109 4.3.1 Design of TTAI fabrics ..................................................................................... 109 4.3.2 Fabric production .............................................................................................. 111 4.3.3 Fabric analysis ................................................................................................... 115 Influences of wadding warp yarns on the tensile properties .................................... 118 4.4.1 FE analyses on wadded TTAI fabrics ............................................................... 118 4.4.2 Experimental study on TTAI reinforced composites ........................................ 122 Summary .................................................................................................................. 126 Optimisation of the continuous fabrics as reinforcements for military helmet shells ................................................................................................................................... 128 Mouldability studies on TTAI fabrics ...................................................................... 128 5.1.1 Picture frame test for shear deformation behaviour of TTAI fabrics................ 128 4 5.1.2 Mouldability tester for fabric mouldability evaluation ..................................... 133 5.1.3 Theoretical prediction of TTAI mouldability based on locking angle method . 136 5.1.4 Moulding of TTAI fabrics over a PASGT mould ............................................. 143 Ballistic performance evaluation of TTAI reinforced composite ............................ 145 5.2.1 Influences of fabric thread density .................................................................... 146 5.2.2 Influences of panel construction ....................................................................... 148 5.2.3 Comparison between wadded TTAI and plain weave reinforced composites .. 160 Summary .................................................................................................................. 163 Numerical study on the ballistic performance of the continuously reinforced helmet shells ....................................................................................................................... 165 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 165 Brief introduction to ABAQUS/Explicit .................................................................. 165 FE model for PASGT helmet shell .......................................................................... 166 6.3.1 Generation of the geometric model of PASGT shell ........................................ 166 Evaluation of curvatures .........................................................................................