Investigation of deformation and failure mechanisms in woven and nonwoven fabrics under quasi-static loading conditions

Abstract

The mechanical responses of high performance ballistic woven and nonwoven fabrics under in- plane quasi-static loading conditions have been investigated. The investigations focused on the responses of fabrics at the mesostructural level as well as at the macroscopic level under uniaxial tensile and in-plane shear modes of deformation. A number of experimental methods have been developed, including techniques to test individual fibers (coupon fiber test), techniques to test fabric specimens with the aid of custom-designed fixtures, and techniques relying on image analysis to capture the deformation response of the fabric. Two continuum models have been developed for each type of fabric based on the deformation and failure mechanisms observed in the experiments. The models are able to capture essential features of the in-plane deformation of the fabrics in a computationally efficient framework.