Validation of the modified digital element approach for simulating ballistic impact against fragment simulating projectile

Abstract

A modified digital element approach (DEA) is applied to simulate fabric perforation process under ballistic impact. The previous version of the DEA is capable of simulating ballistic impact of textile fabric using rigid body spherical and cylindrical projectiles only. Fragment simulating projectile (FSP) and real bullets are not modeled. The subject of this research is to perform ballistic penetration process against projectile of arbitrary shape and validate the modified DEA. A fabric to solid body projectile contact search and contact force calculation algorithm is established. Ballistic impact of textile fabrics against spherical and cylindrical projectiles is performed using the previous DEA and the modified DEA separately. Numerical results are compared to the well published DEA results to investigate the fabric bullet resistant performance.