Ballistic Performance of UHMWPE Fiber Armor Panels with Different Manufacturing Processes under Multi-angle Impacts

ZHANG Huihui; DONG Fangdong; WU Yang

doi:10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.07.001

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (7) : 1-8. DOI: 10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.07.001

Special Topic—Application and Collaborative Evaluation Technology of Light Weapons in Complex Environments

Ballistic Performance of UHMWPE Fiber Armor Panels with Different Manufacturing Processes under Multi-angle Impacts

ZHANG Huihui^1,2, DONG Fangdong^1,2, WU Yang^1,2

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Abstract

The work aims to evaluate the ballistic performance differences of UHMWPE fiber armor panels with different manufacturing processes under multi-angle impact conditions simulating real combat scenarios, thereby providing evidence-based guidance for material selection and structural design of personal protective equipment. A controlled-variable methodology was implemented, with all test panels maintaining a constant areal density of 5.4 kg/m². Both soft (physically stacked) and hard (thermally compressed) configurations were tested against pistol bullets and fragments at 0°, 30°, and 45° impact angles. Protection effectiveness was quantitatively assessed through indentation depth analysis and ballistic limit (v₅₀) testing. The hard panels demonstrated significantly lower indentation depths compared to soft panels under pistol bullet impact. In equilateral triangular shooting patterns, the third impact point showed over 12% greater indentation depth. Soft panels exhibited superior fragment protection with higher v₅₀ values, showing 14.3%-14.8% v₅₀ improvement at 45° versus normal impact at 0°. At equivalent areal density, hard UHMWPE panels are more suitable for pistol bullet protection while soft configurations demonstrate advantages against fragments. Increasing impact angle significantly enhances protective performance, and shot placement pattern critically affects armor effectiveness.

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ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE) / ballistic performance / impact angle / armor panels

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ZHANG Huihui, DONG Fangdong, WU Yang. Ballistic Performance of UHMWPE Fiber Armor Panels with Different Manufacturing Processes under Multi-angle Impacts[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2025, 22(7): 1-8 https://doi.org/10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2025.07.001

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