PAPER PRESENTATION

APPLICATION OF NON-NEWTONIAN
FLUIDS IN BODY ARMOUR

Presented by:
AKSHAR T GOTTE
BE 4 SEM 100520732003
Department of Civil Engineering,
University College of Engineering, Osmania University.
 MOTIVATION
 With the technological advance of firearms, ballistic protections
have gained significant attention.

 In order to save lives, innovation in ballistic armour is essential.

 Through this study, application of Non-Newtonian Fluids in

various fields can be explored.

 Along with protection, flexibility and comfort of vests is also

necessary.
CONTENTS
Objectives
Literature Review
Introduction
Methodology
Results and Discussions
Author’s Conclusions
Gaps/Lacune
Suggestions
References
OBJECTIVES
To analyse the impact performance properties of Kevlar
impregnated with Non-Newtonian Fluids.
To determine the penetration percentage for different
compositions of Non-Newtonian Fluids.
To study the influence of orientation of layers and knife
blade geometry on penetration resistance.
To determine the friction force between the layers of
Kevlar.
To find out which combination will show least penetration
and maximum friction between the yarns.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Author Summary of the study

Kirkwood KM The ballistic properties of Non-Newtonian Fluid-Kevlar

(2004) composites and the use of shear thickening fluids in liquid
armour were explained.

Salim Y A review on stab and spike resistance performance of shear

(2017) thickening fluids (STF) impregnated fabrics was given.

Dong Z Testing and modeling of yarn pull out in plain woven Kevlar
(2009) fabrics was done.
 Author Summary of the study

Chen Q Drop tower test was done and stab resistance of body armor and
(2017) high strain dynamic mechanical properties of Kevlar fabrics
impregnated with Non-Newtonian Fluids was explained .

Kordani N Numerical solution of penetration into woven fabric target

(2016) impregnated with shear thickening fluid was given.
 INTRODUCTION
 The major advances in ballistic armour are specifically due to
Kevlar and Non-Newtonian Fluids.

 Kevlar is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber. Kevlar is the

most commonly used material in armour because of its impact
resistance, high strength and low weight.

Kevlar Fabric
Para-aramid fiber is five times stronger than steel on an equal
weight basis and has an outstanding strength to weight ratio.

The chemical structure of Kevlar is comprised of several repeating

inter-chain bonds.

Normal Fabric Vs Kevlar Fabric

 What are Non-Newtonian Fluids ?
 The fluids which do not obey Newton’s Law of Viscosity are known as Non-
Newtonian Fluids (NNFs). The viscosity of NNFs changes under stress, i.e,
viscosity is not constant.

 The fluid thickens as it is subjected to a force, hence it behaves like a solid

under high pressure.

 This property favours the use of NNFs in body armour as energy absorbers and
it also provides flexibility and low weight advantages. Thus, NNFs distribute the
energy of the impact.

 Examples of Non-Newtonian Fluids :-

 Cornstarch + Water (Oobleck)
 NanoSilica + silane(coupling agent)
 Paint, Human blood
Behaviour of Non-Newtonian Fluids
 Kevlar is soaked in Non-Newtonian Fluids (NNFs) for making
body armour. NNFs distribute the energy of the blow over a wide
area.

 Impact performance of Kevlar can be significantly improved by the

addition of NNF.

Kevlar fabric being soaked in Non-Newtonian Fluid

 METHODOLOGY
 In this work, all experiments were performed with high performance Kevlar
weave fabric (poly-phenylene terephthalamide).
 The Non-Newtonian Fluid used in the experiments was composed of
NanoSilica and coupling agent (silane).
 The coupling agent used in this experiment was Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
(APTES) or silane.
 Three different compositions of NNF were prepared by taking silica
nanoparticles at concentrations of 10%, 17.5% and 25% in relation to the mass
producing distinct compositions of NNF (1, 2 and 3).

Description of sample composition

 The Kevlar fabric samples were immersed in the NNF with
different silica nanoparticles concentration (10%, 17.5% and 25%)
 Finally, the samples to be tested were prepared using 3 layers of
Kevlar woven fabrics, under different displacement (30◦, 60◦ and
0◦) and (0◦, 0◦ and 0◦).

(a) Oriented (b) Non-Oriented

 In this paper, drop tower and yarn pull out tests were conducted,
to verify the penetration of blades and friction force among the
yarns respectively.
 DROP TOWER TEST
 Drop tower test was carried out to verify the penetration of blade
into the fabric and to measure the resistance to stab of the
composite.

The samples were applied under a base of multiple layers of foam

and rubber.
Knife blades of two different geometries, P1 and S1 were used in
this experiment.

(a) P1 (b) S1

The geometry of the knife blades will influence the penetration as

penetration depends on sharpness and angle of the cutting blade.
 The depth of penetration in each sample was evaluated according
to the length of the cut in the layers of the witness paper.

Drop Tower Test Apparatus

 PULL OUT TEST
Yarn pull out tests were conducted to determine the friction force among the
yarns in Kevlar woven fabrics impregnated with different compositions of NNF.

Tests were performed using a tensile test machine. A single yarn was pulled out by a
movable jaw of the tensile machine in order to measure the friction force against the
yarns.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Drop Tower Test
 Almost all samples impregnated with different NNF compositions
exhibited significant performance in reducing penetration depth.

 The sample described as 1NOR and knife blade geometry (P1)

showed no reduction (99%).
The sample described as 2OR for knife blade geometry (P1) exhibited significant
reduction in penetration depth (42.8%) compared to all other NNF compositions 2.
NNF composition 3 with oriented woven layers and knife blade geometry P1 showed least

penetration of 19.5%.

Among the investigated parameters, (knife blade geometry, orientation of woven layers
and NNF compositions) NNF composition exerted the highest influence on penetration
depth.
The penetration (%) decreased significantly by increasing the percentage of NanoSilica
and silane.
It was observed that the geometry of the knife blades influenced the penetration as
penetration depends on sharpness and angle of the cutting blade.
Pull Out
Test
 The addition of NanoSilica and silane coupling agent improved the behavior of Kevlar
under impact.
 The NNF composition exerted the highest influence on the frictional force between the
yarns in comparison to other variables such as knife blade geometry and orientation of
woven layers.
 The knife blade geometry as well as the orientation of woven layers showed low or no
influence on the friction force between yarns.

 NNF composition 1 samples showed least frictional force between the yarns (5.8N).
NNF composition 2 samples exhibited more friction between the yarns as
compared to NNF composition 1 samples.
NNF composition 3 samples, i.e, when NanoSilica (25%) and silane (38%)
content is high, exhibited the highest friction force between the yarns (10.55N).

NNF composition 2 NNF composition 3

Hence, the friction force between the yarns increases as the concentration of
NNF increases.
 AUTHOR’S CONCLUSIONS
 It can be concluded that all samples impregnated with different NNF
compositions exhibited significant performance in reducing penetration depth
as well as higher friction force between yarns.

 NNF composition exerted higher influence on penetration depth properties as

compared to other variables such as knife blade geometry and orientation of
woven layers.

 Oriented Kevlar layers showed a greater reduction in penetration depth (%)

when compared to non-oriented samples.

 Penetration percentage of the blade decreased significantly when the

concentrations of NanoSilica and silane were increased.

 The geometry of the knife blades influenced the penetration as penetration

depends on sharpness and angle of the cutting blade.
 It was concluded that among the variables studied, woven layers exerted higher
influence than the knife blade geometry.

 NNF composition exerted a higher influence on the frictional force between the
yarns when compared to other variables.

 The knife blade geometry and woven layers showed lower or no influence on
the friction force between yarns.

 NNF composition 3 with oriented Kevlar layers and knife blade geometry P1
showed least penetration of 19.5% and maximum friction force between the
yarns (10.55N).
GAPS/LACUNE
 In the drop tower test, angular penetration of blade was not
tested.

 Very high inter-yarn friction could lead to yarn rupture.

 NanoSilica is very expensive, hence it is not economically

viable.
SUGGESTIONS
 Instead of NanoSilica, a mixture of cornstarch and water
(Oobleck) can be used.

 Instead of NNF composition 3, NNF composition 2 can be

used.

 Further research and testing could be done on angular

penetrations.
REFERENCES
 Cao S, Chen Q, Wang Y, Xuan S, Jiang W, Gong X. High strain-rate dynamic
mechanical properties of Kevlar fabrics impregnated with shear thickening
fluid. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf 2017;100:161–9.
 Dong Z, Sun CT. Testing and modeling of yarn pull-out in plain woven Kevlar
fabrics. Compos Part A 2009;40:1863–9.
 Kirkwood KM, Wetzel ED, Wagner NJ, et al. Liquid ¨ armor¨: protective fabrics
utilizing shear thickening fluids. In: 4th Int Conf Saf Prot Fabr. 2004. p. 1–8.
 Kordani N, Vanini AS, Amiri H. Numerical Solution of penetration into woven
fabric target impregnated with shear thickening fluid. Polym Polym Compos
2016;24:281–7.
 Salim Y, Yahya MY, Israr HA, Mohamed R. A review on stab and spike
resistance performance of shear thickening fluids (STF) impregnated fabrics.
In: 12th Int. Conf. Latest Trends Eng. Technol. 2017. p. 6.
THANK YOU
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