Ballistic impact performance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite armour

Present work deals with the nonlinear finite element analyses of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). UHMWPE has been presented for ballistic design investigation of lightweight body armour using ANSYS-Workbench. The ballistic performance of UHMWPE has been compared with Kevlar/epoxy composite and alumina. The study is presented in terms of the ballistic limit of UHMWPE, Kevlar/epoxy, and alumina plate, the implication of obliquity (at 30°, 45°, and 60°), projectile shape (elliptical, conical, and spherical shape). The sequencing order of material layup for a bi-layer composite and ballistic performance of single-layered UHMWPE has been compared with the multi-layered plate. The parametric studies have been presented in the form of residual velocity, the ratio of energy transferred to impact velocity of the ballistic plate, and perforation rate for the single and multi-layered UHMWPE. The results of the numerical analyses of UHMWPE have been compared with the Kevlar/epoxy composite. It has been found that the armour system made of UHMWPE laminate composite resulted in a 40.6% weight reduction compared to Kevlar/epoxy configuration with a 17.3% higher ballistic limit.