A Dynamic Constitutive Model for Shear Thickening Fluid Impregnated Kevlar Fabric

Shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated Kevlar fabric is a new type of composite materials which has better impact resistance as compared with neat Kevlar fabric. On the basis of previous work, a dynamic constitutive model for STF impregnated Kevlar fabric is firstly developed by introducing dynamic increase factor (strain rate effect) and residual strength factor in combination with the rheological properties of STF and yarn pull out test results. Numerical simulations of STF impregnated Kevlar fabric at different impact velocities are then conducted using the proposed constitutive model. Finally, the numerical results are compared with the relevant experimental data. It is shown that the present constitutive model can predict well the impact response of STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics in terms of residual velocity, load-displacement curve and damage morphology, lending support to the accuracy and usefulness of the dynamic constitutive model for STF impregnated Kevlar fabric.