• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

In this study, the failure modes by ballistic impacts were studied both for a neat Kevlar woven fabric and a Kevlar liquid armor impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) containing silica particles. These two materials showed quite different failure modes macroscopically in ballistic impacts tests used by Cal.22 FSP and 9mm FMJ bullet. Yarn pull-out for the neat Kevlar woven fabric and yarn fracture occurred partially through all plies from 1st ply to last one for the STF-Kevlar are an important energy absorption mechanisms. The results observed by S.E.M showed commonly fiber damage which are torn skin in the longitudinal fiber direction, fiber split axially and fiber fracture for two materials. The reasons why STF-kevlar liquid armor material exhibits excellent ballistic performance are as follow: firstly the increased friction forces between yarn-yarn and fabric-fabric covered with silica particles and secondary the evolution of shear thickening phenomenmon resulting in suppression of yarn mobility.