Bulletproof properties and failure modes of multilayer fabrics of different materials

One of the ways to improve the protection ability of bulletproof vests is to optimize flexible fabrics. Therefore, understanding the energy absorption law of fabrics and exploring better protection structures is important. Taking aramid (Kevlar®29) plain woven fabric (areal density 90 g/m²) and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) unidirectional (UD) fabric (areal density 120 g/m²) as research objects, two types of single-material target plates and three types of two-material composite target plates are studied through ballistic tests. Five types of target plates are impacted by 8-mm steel balls at 200 m/s to analyze their energy absorption laws and failure modes. Research shows that due to the loose structure of UD cloth and less energy absorption. Under three areal density conditions of 360 g/m², 720 g/m², and 1080 g/m², the energy absorbed by a single plain weave fabric target plate is 46.77%, 35.49%, and 30.07% higher than that of a single UD fabric target plate, respectively. In composite target plates, the target plate with plain weave fabric in front and UD fabric at the back has stronger protection than the reversed one, but is weaker than a single plain weave fabric target plate at the same areal density. At 720 g/m² areal density, the energy absorption of the three is 24.31 J, 22.83 J, and 30.68 J, respectively. The new hybrid composite fabric target (alternating layers of plain weave fabric and UD fabric) absorbs 33.46 J at 720 g/m² surface density. Due to the maximum damage degree of Kevlar fabric and UD fabric, the target plate shows the best protection effect.