Ceramics-Silikáty 68, (4) 459 - 470 (2024)

High-velocity impacts pose a serious challenge to structural biomimetic fibre-reinforced composites, and the complex damage mechanisms of composites under extreme loading need to be understood in depth to ensure the safety and reliability of the design. In view of this, the study investigated the effect of different blending ratios of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres and Kevlar fibres on the anti-invasion performance of target plates by mimicking the bio-gradient structure of shells in nature. Using ABAQUS software and user subroutines, a finite element model under dynamic penetration was established to simulate the damage performance of the target plate during the penetration process. The results show that, in the ballistic impact test when the ratio of Kevlar to UHMWPE is 1:2, the target plate reaches the optimal ballistic limit, with a V50 velocity of up to 972 m/s, and energy absorption and specific energy absorption values of 521.7 J, 50.2 J/kg-m-2 and 50.6 J/mm. The back convexity of the K1 target plate is the largest, with a height and diameter of 4.0 mm and 63 mm, respectively; the K2 target plate is the smallest, with a height of 2.0 mm and a diameter of 51 mm, which are reduced by 50.0% and 19.1%, respectively. The mixing ratio affected the back sheet damage, which was greater with the higher Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene content. The results show that the performance of the composites under high-speed impact can be significantly improved by adjusting the blend ratio of the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibres to Kevlar fibres. The finite element simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data, which provide an important reference for the design and application of new structural protective armour.