COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ›› 2025, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (6): 48-56.DOI: 10.19936/j.cnki.2096-8000.20250628.007

• BASIC AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE RESEARCH • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Failure behavior of fiber fabrics under the combined effects of blast shockwaves and fragments

XIE Jiang1,2, JIANG Yilun2,3, LI Xuan2,3, PAN Hanyuan2,3, FENG Zhenyu1,2   

  1. 1. Science and Technology Innovation Research Institute, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Civil Aviation Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Technology, Tianjin 300300, China;
    3. College of Safety Science and Engineering, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China
  • Received:2024-03-25 Online:2025-06-28 Published:2025-07-24

Abstract: High performance fiber woven fabric can be utilized as blast-resistant structural material for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the cabin of civil aviation aircraft. In some cases, explosive devices are enhanced with fragments to increase their destructive effect. To evaluate the protective performance of fiber woven fabrics under blast loads with fragments, this research conducted free-field blast experiments with secondary fragments on aramid (Aramid) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plain weave fabrics. Additionally, overpressure sensors and high-speed cameras were employed to record the experimental process. The failure behavior of the fabrics was analyzed through theoretical analysis of shockwave and fragment propagation and experimental results. It was observed that the high-velocity fragments accelerated by the blast shockwave altered the blast loading characteristics, and resulted in changes to the fabric’s failure modes. At close stand-off distance (SOD), the shockwave impacts the fabric before the fragments, and the preloading of the shockwave deteriorates the fragment-resistance of the fabric. The results indicate that: under the same charge, thicker fabrics are required to provide complete protection against blast shockwave and fragments. Therefore, enhancing the fragment-resistant properties of fiber fabrics will be a focal point for improving protective performance in subsequent research.

Key words: fiber fabrics, blast mechanics, blast shockwave, high-speed fragments, failure behavior, composites

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