Ballistic behavior of three-dimensional orthotropic woven fabric using virtual-fiber model

This study proposes a novel VFM on a fiber scale to capture the ballistic behavior of 3DOWF. The model effectively reveals yarn deformation during the weaving process of fabric, and yarn pull-out, interfiber friction and yarn interactions during the ballistic response. The results revealed that the VFM exhibited a ballistic response consistent with high-speed photography observations and successfully captured fiber slippage and pull-out behavior under impact. Compared to the YM, the VFM enables the observation of nonsimultaneous fiber breakage and fiber interactions. Moreover, it illustrates the role of yarn pull-out in the penetration resistance of the 3DOWF, dissipating the kinetic energy of the projectile in the form of friction. Furthermore, the VFM delineated the specific functions of each system yarn. Specifically, the warp and weft yarns primarily serve as impediments to the projectile, whereas the Z yarn binds the weft, promoting the increased involvement of the weft in dissipating kinetic energy. Building on this investigation, the impact of the clamping method on the ballistic performance of the 3DOWF was explored. The findings revealed that yarn pullout emerged as the primary failure mode under the weft sides. Notably, the warp yarns predominantly experienced pullout, which enhanced the friction energy. The Z yarn binds to weft yarns that gather with warp yarns to form a strip-like protrusion, impeding the projectile motion owing to the increased number of yarns. The VFM contributes significantly to the exploration of the impact of fabric structures on ballistic performance, offering valuable insights for designing and enhancing ballistic fabric structures.