Tuesday  |  Executive CD  |  09:40 AM–10:00 AM

#19373, Dynamic Shear Response of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Composites

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites such as Dyneema exhibit exceptional potential as lightweight materials that can withstand significant impact; however, these materials are challenging to model accurately because of a lack of understanding the dynamic mechanical properties. Dynamic shear strength under pressure is a particularly elusive property for these materials—owing to their low shear strength and low coefficient of friction, which complicate dynamic shear loading. Yet, these challenges can be overcome using low velocity impact of low impedance platens combined with the recent developments for the technique of transverse velocity measurements using photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV). Here, with these modifications, the well-established pressure-shear experiment will be leveraged toward understanding the through ply thickness dynamic shear strength of Dyneema HB210 and HB212. Effects of fiber orientation relative to the shear direction as well as varied normal pressure on the dynamic shear strength are presented.

Scott Turnage   U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Kenneth Strawhecker   U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Debjoy Mallick   U.S. Army Research Laboratory