International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, ISSN:2051-3232, Vol.41, Issue.

1117

Numerical Analysis of Kevlar-epoxy Composite

Plate subjected to Ballistic Impact
Manish Kumar Dubey

Pathri Bhargav Prajwal

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Dehradun Institute of Technology,
Dehradun 248001, India.
Email: mickymech7@gmail.com

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Dehradun Institute of Technology,
Dehradun 248001, India

ABSTRACT
Numerical investigation has been carried out to study the
behavior of Kevlar/epoxy composite plate subjected to
ballistic impact using ABAQUS/Explicit. By using
different strike velocities various residual velocities and
core areas of damage are calculated. The commercially
available code ABAQUS has been used for the numerical
simulation where the impactor have been modeled with a
simple shell element. A user materials model based on a
continuum damage mechanics concept for a failure
mechanism of laminated composites has been
implemented.

Keywords-Kevlar-epoxy,

ABAQUS/Explicit,
behavior, Finite element analysis

1.

Impact

INTRODUCTION

Composite materials (or composites for short) are

engineered materials made from two or more constituent
materials with significantly different physical or chemical
properties which remain separate and distinct on a
macroscopic level within the finished structure.
Composites are made up of individual materials referred to
as constituent materials. There are two categories of
constituent materials: matrix and reinforcement. At least
one portion of each type is required. The matrix material
surrounds and supports the reinforcing materials by
composites are, therefore, controlled by the strength and
stiffness of constituent fibers.
The matrix also shares the load when there is not much
difference between the strength and stiffness properties of
reinforcements and matrices (e.g., SiC/Titanium
composite). However, the primary task of a matrix is to act
as a medium of load transfer between one of the
reinforcements to the other. It also holds reinforcements
together. In that regard, the matrix plays a very vital role
maintaining their relative positions. The reinforcements
impart their special mechanical and physical properties to
enhance the matrix properties. The reinforcements, which
are stronger and stiffer, are dispersed in a comparatively

less strong and stiff matrix material. The reinforcements

share the major load and in some cases, especially when a
composite consists of fiber reinforcements dispersed in a
weak matrix (e.g., carbon/epoxy composite). Highperformance fibers such as carbon, boron, graphite, and
Kevlar are of the highest interest for military and aerospace
composite applications that can be used at high
temperatures and resist corrosion better than conventional
metals or plastics. Polymer matrix composites have been
widely adopted in military applications to resist foreign
object impact loading. During ballistic impact, PMCs
retard the projectile by absorbing its kinetic energy through
different mechanisms such as deformation of the
composite, delamination, and shear between layers.
Kevlar, the most well known aramid fibre is a type of
nylon. Kevlar is the lightest of any fibre reinforcement, has
high tensile strength for its weight, and is very tough. It is
slightly less expensive than carbon fibre. Kevlar is
puncture
and abrasion resistant, making it the best
choice for hull rails and sharp seams. It also has poor
compressive properties. Kevlar is naturally yellow, but can
be pigmented during manufacture to most other colors
including black.
N.K. Gupta et al. [1], explained experimental and
numerical studies on the behavior of thin aluminum plates
subjected to impact by blunt and hemispherical-nosed
projectiles. Experiments were conducted on aluminum
plates of 1mm thickness by using a gas gun and projectiles
with blunt and hemispherical noses. Target plate was
impacted with varying impact velocity. Impact and
residual velocities of the projectile were measured.
Ballistic limit velocity was found to be higher for
hemispherical projectiles than that for blunt projectiles.
M.A. Iqbal et al. [2], explains the 3D numerical
simulations of ductile targets subjected to oblique impact
by sharp nosed projectiles. Twelve-mm-thick Weldox 460
E steel targets were impacted by 20 mm diameter
projectiles with conical nose and 1-mm-thick 1100-H12
aluminum targets were impacted by 19 mm diameter ogive

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, ISSN:2051-3232, Vol.41, Issue.1

nosed projectiles. In both the cases, the targets were

impacted at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 obliquity or until the
ricochet of the projectile occurred.
N.K. Gupta et al. [3], explains the Effect of projectile nose
shape, impact velocity and target thickness on the
deformation behavior of layered plates. Thin-layered plates
arranged in various combinations were normally impacted
at different velocities with the help of a pneumatic gun.
Ballistic limit velocity and the residual velocity of the
projectiles for each layered combination were obtained
experimentally as well as from the finite element code, and
these were compared with those of the single plates of
equivalent thicknesses. For two layers, the residual
velocity was comparable to that of the single plate,
however, when the number of layers was increased the
velocity drop was found to be higher in the case of the
single plate. Ogive nosed projectile was found to be the
most efficient penetrator of the layered target.
Hemispherical nosed projectile required maximum energy
for perforation
A. Arias et al. [4], explains a numerical study of normal
perforation of thin steel plates impacted by different
projectile shapes is reported. The numerical simulations of
this problem have been performed using a finite element
code, ABAQUS-Explicit with a fixed and an adaptive
mesh for the plate. To define the thermoviscoplastic
behaviour of the material constituting the plate, the
Johnson Cook model has been used. This homogeneous
behaviour has been coupled with the Johnson Cook
fracture criterion to predict completely the perforation
process. Three kinds of projectile shape (blunt, conical and
hemispherical) have been simulated with a large range of
impact velocities from 190 to 600 m/s. The analysis
considers the influence of adiabatic shear bands, plastic
work and the gradient of temperature generated in the
plate.
N.K. Gupta et al. [5], explains the experimental and
numerical investigations of aluminum target plates
impacted by blunt, ogive and hemispherical nosed steel
projectiles. The projectiles were normally impacted on the
target plates of 0.5, 0.71, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 mm
thicknesses at different velocities with the help of a
pneumatic gun. Effect of projectile nose shape, impact
velocity and plate thickness on the deformation of the
target plates was studied. Hemispherical nosed projectile
caused highest global deformation (dishing) of the target
plates. Ogive nosed projectiles were found to be the most
efficient penetrator for the case of plates of thicknesses 0.5,
0.71, 1.0 and 1.5 mm. For the case of plates of thicknesses
2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm however, blunt nosed projectiles
required least energy to perforate the target plates.

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J. Dean et al. [6] explains the energy absorption in thin (0.4

mm) steel plates during perforation by spherical projectiles
of hardened steel, at impact velocities between 200 and
600 m/s. Absorbed energies have been obtained from
measured incident and emergent projectile velocities.
These tests were simulated using ABAQUS/Explicit, using
the Johnson and Cook plasticity model. A strain ratedependent, critical plastic strain fracture criterion was
employed to model fracture
A.H. Sheikh et al. [7], explains the behavior of single and
multiple laminated panels subjected to ballistic impact. A
pressurized air gun is used to shoot the impactor, which
can attain sufficient velocity to penetrate all the laminates
in a multiple laminated panel. The incidental and residual
velocity of the impactor is measured to estimate the energy
absorption in the impact process. The commercially
available code ABAQUS has been used for the numerical
simulation where the impactor has been modeled as a rigid
body and the laminates has been modeled with a simple
shell element. A user material model based on a continuum
damage mechanics concept for failure mechanism of
laminated composites has been implemented.
D.W. Zhou and W.J. Stronge [8], explain the Ballistic limit
for oblique impact of thin sandwich panels and spaced
plates. The experiments were performed using a short
cylindrical projectile with either a flat or hemispherical
nose that struck the target plate at an angle of obliquity. A
total of 170 tests were performed at angles of obliquity 0
45. The results suggest that during perforation by a flatnosed projectile, layered plates cause more energy loss
than monolithic plates of the same material and total
thickness. There was no significant difference in the
measured ballistic limit speed between monolithic plates
and layered plates during oblique impact perforation by a
hemispherical-nosed projectile. Numerical simulations by
ABAQUS/Explicit finite element code were compared
against the experimental fracture patterns, residual
velocities and ballistic limits of perforated plate.
Baozhong Sun et al. [9], explains the ballistic impact
damages of 3-D orthogonal woven composite in finite
element analysis (FEA) and experimental. A unit-cell
model of the 3-D woven composite was developed to
define the material behavior and failure evolution. A userdefined subroutine VUMAT was compiled and connected
with commercial available FEA code ABAQUS/Explicit to
calculate the ballistic penetration. Ballistic impact tests
were conducted to investigate impact damage of 3-D
Kevlar/glass hybrid woven composite. Residual velocities
of conically-cylindrical steel projectiles (Type 56 in China
Military Standard) and impact damage of the composite

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targets after ballistic perforation were compared both in

theoretical and experimental.
Brenda L. Buitrago et al. [10], explained the perforation of
composite sandwich structures subjected to high-velocity
impact. Sandwich panels with carbon/epoxy skins and an
aluminum honeycomb core were modeled by a threedimensional finite element model implemented in
ABAQUS/Explicit. The model was validated with
experimental tests by comparing numerical and
experimental residual velocity, ballistic limit, and contact
time. By this model the influence of the components on the
behaviour of the sandwich panel under impact load was
evaluated; also, the contribution of the failure mechanisms
to the energy-absorption of the projectile kinetic energy
was determined.

1119

quadratic stress polynomials which are expressed in terms

of transversely isotropic invariants of the applied average
stress state. Four distinct failure modes-tensile and
compressive fibre and matrix modes-are modeled
separately, resulting in a piecewise smooth failure surface.

2.
IMPACT
ANALYSIS
OF
THE
COMPOSITE USING ABAQUS /EXPLICIT
In this simulation 10 mm thick Kevlar/Epoxy laminate is
impacted with hemispherical projectile of 20 mm diameter
and 35 mm long. The projectile is made up of EN_AW
6082 aluminum body. The quarter projectile is shown
below. This projectile is designed and given various
velocities in ABAQUS and the results are plotted.

Ireneusz Lapczyk and Juan A. Hurtado [11], explains the

progressive damage modeling in fibre-reinforced materials.
They present an anisotropic damage model suitable for
predicting failure and post-failure behavior in fibrereinforced materials. In the model the plane stress
formulation is used and the response of the undamaged
material is assumed to be linearly elastic. The model is
intended to predict behavior of elastic-brittle materials that
show no significant plastic deformation before failure.
Four different failure modes
fibre tension, fibre
compression, matrix tension, and matrix compression are
considered and modeled separately.
Leela Prasad Palla [12], A Thesis Presented to the
Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of
Science, December, 2008, explains the blast response of
composite sandwich panels from where the fracture energy
for crack propagation in all modes of failure was taken as
1,250 J / m2.
Sunil Kumar et al. [13], explains the ballistic response of
laminated composite plates using numerical simulations.
Numerical simulations were carried out to determine the
ballistic response of thick Kevlar/epoxy composite plates,
commonly used in body armor. These plates were
impacted at velocities between 100 and 1000m/s. The
numerical parametric study of ballistic impact caused by
cylindrical projectile is undertaken to obtain an estimate
for the ballistic limit velocity, energy absorbed by the
plate, and the contact duration. The effect of mass and
diameter of the projectile on ballistic limit velocity was
also studied.
Z.Hashin [14], explains the failure criteria for
Unidirectional Fibre Composites. The three-dimensional
failure criteria of unidirectional failure criteria of
unidirectional fibre composites are established in terms of

Fig.1 Sectional view of half of the projectile

2. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
create
part under modeling space 3D, Type-Deformable, Base
Feature-shape-solid, Type-extrusionoption of
ABAQUS. The mesh of a composite plate and projectile is
shown in the Fig 3 below. Mesh size of 50 x 50 for the
quarter plate having higher mesh density near the left
lower corner (point of impact) is taken as shown in Fig.3.
The fibre reinforced composite laminates have been
modeled with the 4-node quadrilateral shell element S4R

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having the options of reduced integration, hourglass

control and finite membrane strains. The impactor has been
modeled as 3D rigid surfaces using 4-node 3D
quadrilateral element R3D4.

Fig.2 Mesh of the Composite plate and a projectile.

Table.1 Material properties of Kevlar/epoxy Composite
Laminate
Material Property with unit Value
Reference density (kg/m3)
1650
1.798900E + 007
1) (
kPa)
1.798900E + 007
2)
(kPa)
1.948000E + 006
3)
(kPa)
0.08000
12)
0.69800
23)
0.07560
31)
Shear modulus (G12) (kPa)
1.857010E + 06
Longitudinal
tensile 1520
strength (Xt) (MPa)
Longitudinal compressive 1590
strength (Xc) (MPa)
Transverse tensile strength 45
(Yt) (MPa)
Transverse
compressive 252
strength (Yc) (MPa)
Shear longitudinal strength 105
(Sl) (MPa)
Transverse
compressive 105
strength (Yc) (MPa)

1120

after some time. This constant velocity is the residual

velocity which, as per the simulation is 463.01 m/s.

Fig. 3 Time history of the impactor velocity for the [0/90]5

laminate impacted with incidental velocity of 512 m/s
The present simulation was done in ABAQUS 6.9 that has
a facility to model the damage evolution through defining
various components of fracture energy. The closeness of
results in the two cases indicates the choice of fracture
energy to be reasonably correct. An estimation of the
perforated area in the quarter plate is also done. In the
visualization mode of ABAQUS there is an option to
delete free flying dead elements already discarded in the
simulation. After deletion of such elements, the quarter
plate may look like as shown in fig. 4. In calculating the
perforated area, the coordinates of the nodes on the new
perforated boundary are noted and the area is calculated.
Total perforated area is then obtained by multiplying 4
with this computed area. For the [0/90]5 laminate, this total
area is found as 515.07mm2.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The simulation has been done for two cases i.e.,[0/90]5 and
[0/90]20 laminate with incidental velocity of the impactor
as 512 m/s and 427 m/s respectively. The velocity vs. time
plot is obtained at the tip of the projectile and is shown in
fig. 3. The velocity of the impactor shows a sharp drop
indicating impact with the plate and it becomes constant

Fig. 4 View of the plate showing perforated area for the

[0/90]5 laminate impacted with incidental velocity of 512
m/s

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1121

decreases with increase in thickness of the plate. The area

of perforation, however, is seen to be less when the strike
velocity is high.
The present simulation has been conducted by giving
fracture energy values as an input to the
ABAQUS/Explicit. Such data actually sets the condition
for element deletion during simulation and hence directly
influence the predicted area of perforation. Experimental
measurement of these data should be done before use in
simulation.

REFERENCES
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Fig. 5 Time history of the impactor velocity for the [0/90]20
laminate impacted with an incidental velocity of 427 m/s
The velocity history plot of the impactor impinging with
512 m/s on the [0/90]20 composite plate is shown in fig. 5.
The residual velocity of the impactor, after perforation of
the bullet is found to be 286.994 m/s.

N.K. Gupta, M.A. Iqbal, G.S. Sekhon, 2005,

aluminium plates subjected to impact by blunt-and
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Fig. 6 View of the plate showing perforated area for the

[0/90]20 laminate impacted with incidental velocity of 427
m/s
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dead elements in the visualization module. The area
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4. CONCLUSIONS
ABAQUS/Explicit is found to be a viable numerical tool
for finite element simulation of impact phenomena.
Damage initiation and its evolution could be studied with
appropriate input of failure strengths and different fracture
energies. In simulation of impact of Kevlar/epoxy
composite plate it is found that the residual velocity

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A.H. Sheikh, P.H. Bull, J.A. Kepler, 2008,

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, ISSN:2051-3232, Vol.41, Issue.1

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