Experimental Investigation of Ballistic Impact Performance of Composite Structures Prepared by Shear Thickening Fluid Impregnation Into Aramid, Uhmwpe, and Hybrid Fabrics

This study presents soft armor design strategies with composite samples produced by impregnating STF into aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and hybrid fabric types. STF was made by dispersing silica nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol at 40 weight% (wt%). The effects of fabric types and hybrid fabric arrangement sequences on energy absorption were experimentally investigated using a single-stage gas gun system. STF-treated fabrics demonstrated a significant increase in energy absorption compared to non-STF-treated fabrics. The extent of this increase varies depending on the fabric type. STF impregnation was found to be more effective in woven aramid fabric, resulting in a 72.7% increase in energy absorption compared to neat fabric. In contrast, STF impregnation of unidirectional UHMWPE fabric led to only a 3.3% increase. In addition to enhancing energy absorption, STF impregnation also demonstrated that altering the fabric arrangement sequence in hybrid samples influences energy absorption. The H3 hybrid sample, consisting of 15 layers of aramid fabric and 15 layers of UHMWPE fabric, exhibited the highest energy absorption. For practical applications in soft body armor design, the effect of fabric arrangement sequence should be considered. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc 2025.