Energy absorption mechanism and cost-benefit assessment of UHMWPE and para-aramid hybrid fabrics for protective structures

作者：Bo Feng, Hongmin Li, Jianhua Shao, Zhijun Wang, Chuang Feng, Jitao Zhong · 发表于：Defence Technology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.dt.2025.10.015 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Fiber-reinforced polymer composites、Mechanical Behavior of Composites、Cellular and Composite Structures

UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) plain-weave fabric, characterized by its lightweight and high-strength properties, is widely used in protective equipment such as bulletproof vests and stab-resistant vests, serving as a key material for enhancing protective performance. This study systematically investigates the influence mechanism of interfacial properties on the energy absorption characteristics of UHMWPE-based protective structures through multi-scale experiments and numerical simulations, and establishes a cross-scale design methodology. Innovatively, an orthotropic constitutive model incorporating dynamic friction coefficients is constructed, combined with a modified Johnson-Cook failure criterion, to achieve high-precision simulation of the entire ballistic impact process (error < 3.5%). Additionally, a friction field prediction model considering strain rate effects is developed, and the friction evolution laws of UHMWPE and Para-aramid (Kevlar)fabrics under strain rates of 10 −3 and 10 −4 s −1 are obtained through MTS pull-out tests. The results show that: (1) there exists a critical yarn-yarn friction coefficient ( μ = 0.2); exceeding this value leads to a 19% reduction in energy absorption capacity, while viscous interfaces increase the energy dissipation peak by 16%; (2) UHMWPE shows kinetically-dominated absorption (58%) with high rate but high load, increasing damage risk. Para-aramid has friction-dominated absorption (53%) with lower rate but sta...