Modeling and simulation of bio-inspired nanoarmors

Abstract

The exploitation of bio-inspired solutions and of novel nanomaterials is gaining increasing attention in the field of impact protection. Indeed, especially for advanced applications, there is a growing pressure towards the reduction of the weight of protective structures without compromising their energy absorption capability. The complexity of the phenomena induced by high-energy contacts requires advanced and efficient computational models, which are also fundamental for achieving the optimum, overcoming the limits of experimental tests and physical prototyping in exploring the whole design space. At the same time, the modeling of bio-inspired toughening mechanisms requires additional capability of these methods to efficiently cover and merge different -and even disparate- size and time scales. In this chapter, we review computational methods for modeling the mechanical behavior of materials and structures under high-velocity (e.g., ballistic) impacts and crushing, with a particular focus on the nonlinear finite element method. Some recent developments in numerical simulation of impact are presented underlining merits, limits, and open problems in the modeling of bio-inspired and nanomaterial-based armors. In the end, two modeling examples, a bio-inspired ceramic-composite armor with ballistic protection capabilities and a modified honeycomb structure for energy absorption, are proposed.