Influence of Infill Pattern on Ballistic Resistance Capabilities of 3D-Printed Polymeric Structures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Defense Technology

Background:

• 3D-printed polymers are increasingly used in various industries, with growing military applications.
• Understanding material properties, printing methods, and structural design is crucial for effective defense use.
• Ballistic resistance of these structures is a key performance metric for defense systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the ballistic resistance of 3D-printed polymer structures against 9x19 mm projectiles.
• To compare the effectiveness of different infill patterns (cubic, grid, honeycomb, gyroid) in stopping projectiles.
• To validate simulation models for predicting projectile-target interactions in complex 3D-printed geometries.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of cuboid polymer targets with four distinct infill patterns using 3D printing.
• Experimental ballistic testing using 9x19 mm live ammunition.
• Non-destructive analysis of post-impact damage using Computed Tomography (CT) scans to measure penetration depth.
• Determination of mechanical properties and Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations.
• Development and validation of a simplified analytical model.

Main Results:

• The honeycomb infill pattern exhibited the best performance in terms of bullet-stopping capability.
• CT scans effectively measured projectile penetration depths for non-destructive analysis.
• FEM simulations, utilizing experimentally determined mechanical properties, accurately predicted projectile-target interactions.
• A simplified analytical model showed good agreement with experimental results.

Conclusions:

• Honeycomb infill provides superior ballistic resistance in 3D-printed polymer structures.
• 3D-printed polymers show potential for defense applications due to their impact performance.
• Computational and analytical models can reliably predict the ballistic behavior of these complex structures.