Evaluating the resistance of metal reinforced multi-layer textile structure against penetration of sharp objects

One of the common applications of textile protective structures is making barriers against penetration of sharp objects. Multilayer fabrics can absorb energy and are a proper candidate to be used in body armors. In this study, a three-layer textile structure which is reinforced by metal threads has been designed and produced. Metal reinforced layer was woven through a particular weaving system. Force and energy of penetration in each layer and also the three-layer textile structure was measured. The test results revealed that the layer resistance against penetration of sharp objects varied depending on the strucure of each layer. The metal reinforced layer had the highest penetration force and energy. In the three-layer textile structure, the resistance behavior of each layer was observed separately and stepwise. Thus, the force peaks in the three-layer textile structure were related to the peak forces in each layer, and the maximum penetration force of three-layer structure was similar to penetration force of metal-reinforced layer. When putting three layers on each other, the penetration energy has increased, and the designed multi-layer textile structure has performed efficiently in absorbing the penetration energy of sharp objects. Due to the stepwise resistance of three-layered textile structure, its obtained penetration energy, was divided into two energy values of external layer and both middle and inner layers. Thus, accumulation of penetration energy of single external, middle and inner layers was in good agreement with penetration energy of three-layer textile structure.