Dynamic Failure Mechanisms in 3D Cellular Woven Composite Systems

The role of porosity on failure resistance of 3-D woven fiber reinforced epoxy panels under dynamic loading condition is investigated. Incident and residual velocities are measured to determine the energy absorption by the target. Material behavior segregates by porosity, and the more highly porous samples absorb a greater amount of specific energy. The reason for this may be due to the deflection of matrix cracks by pores or due to the greater flexibility of the fibers to absorb energy through tensile straining. Although porosity is generally an undesirable property in textile composites, the induction of porosity may result in reduced panel weight without degradation of ballistic performance, which is a clear advantage for weight minimization.