Tuesday, 1 November 2005 - 2:15 PM
207f
Shear Thickening Fluids Reinforced by Discontinuous Short Fibers: Ballistic and Rheological Properties
Caroline H. Nam1, Matthew J. Decker
1, Christopher Halbach
1, Eric D. Wetzel
2, and Norman J. Wagner
1. (1) Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19711, (2) Army Research Laboratory, AMSRD-ARL-WM-MA, Bldg. 4600, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5069
Colloidal shear thickening fluids (STFs) reinforced with discontinuous short-fibers are shown to exhibit improved shear thickening effects. Such new fluid composites are tested for ballistic performance and characterized with squeeze-flow rheology. Fiber properties such as length distribution, rigidity, and aspect ratio are examined to investigate how mechanical properties of STF-fiber composites can be enhanced for body armor applications. Fibers that are used to represent different types of fiber architectures include carbon fibers, glass fibers, and high-density polyethylene fibers. Ballistic performance is tested with a helium-powered gas gun and a clay witness, the latter of which is used to measure depth of penetration of the fragmentation simulation projectile (FSP). For some STF-fiber composites, the projectile is stopped inside the fluid and minimally penetrates the clay witness. Results from squeeze flow rheology, conducted on a strain-controlled rheometer and an Instron compression tester, correlate well with ballistic performance results, which make squeeze flow rheology a promising method to effectively screen for other novel composites.
See more of #207 - Composites - Structure and Properties (08F01)
See more of Materials Engineering and Sciences Division
See more of The 2005 Annual Meeting (Cincinnati, OH)