AN EXPERIMENTAL AND FEM BASED APPROACH TO ASSESS BASALT/KEVLAR HYBRID LAMINATES FOR BALLISTIC PROTECTION APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This research investigates the ballistic performance of Basalt/Kevlar hybrid laminates against Fragment Simulating Projectile (FSP) impacts using both experimental testing and finite element modeling (FEM). The study compared various configurations of 12-layer laminates, including pure basalt fiber reinforced composites (BFRC), pure Kevlar fiber reinforced composites (KFRC), and hybrid combinations. The 6/6 basalt-Kevlar configuration, particularly with basalt as the strike face, demonstrated superior performance, achieving a 30- 40% reduction in projectile velocity and 40% increase in energy absorption compared to single-material laminates. The enhanced performance is attributed to the complementary properties of both materials: basalt's higher compressive strength for initial projectile deformation and Kevlar's superior energy absorption capabilities. FEM simulations were validated through experimental testing with less than 10% error margin, and damage patterns were analyzed using infrared thermography. The findings suggest that these hybrid laminates offer promising solutions for advanced ballistic protection applications.