Modeling of Composite Material Behavior for Blast and Ballistic Impact

A robust computational constitutive model has been developed to characterize the progressive failure behavior of composite laminates under blast and ballistic impact conditions. In this study, the capacity of the progressive failure model integrated within LS-DYNA has been evaluated by performing simulations of blast and ballistic impact composite panels. Correlation results indicated that the current composite model can be used to quantify the composite ballistic impact and blast damage behavior with reasonable accuracy. The present composite material model can provide insight into the damage development and progression that occurs during the ballistic impact or blast loading of lightweight composite armor. The availability of this design tool will greatly facilitate the development of composite structures with enhanced ballistic survivability.