Design of the ballistic performance of shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated Kevlar fabric via numerical simulation

Shear thickening fluids (STFs) can effectively enhance the ballistic performance of Kevlar. Considering that the unique shear thickening effect of STF is the key factor to enhance the impact resistance of fabrics, this study sought to reveal the impact resistance mechanism of STF-Kevlar and guide its further design by using a numerical simulation method of fluid–structure interaction. The ballistic limits of neat Kevlar and STF-Kevlar in the ballistic tests were 55.14 m/s and 72.40 m/s, respectively, and the simulation predictions were 55.58 m/s and 70.40 m/s, which indicated that the established finite element model has high accuracy for predicting the ballistic performance curve of the fabric. The results of numerical simulation showed that STF-Kevlar has smaller deformation during the impact process than neat Kevlar. Due to the strengthening effect of STF, the resistance of STF-Kevlar to the elastomer was greater than that of neat fabric. With the increase of the impact velocity, the STF-Kevlar increasingly relied on STF to absorb energy. In engineering practice, through the fluid–structure interaction numerical simulation method, the prediction of the ballistic performance of the composite fabric can be realized in the early stage of manufacture, and guide further design and optimization.