Polymeric-fiber-reinforced, polymer-matrix armor-grade composite materials with a superior ballistic limit are traditionally developed using legacy knowledge and trial-and-error empiricism. This approach is generally quite costly and time-consuming and, hence, new (faster and more economical) approaches are needed for the development of new and improved armor-grade composite materials. One of these new approaches utilizes the so-called materials-by-design methodology. Within this methodology, extensive use is made of the computer-aided engineering (CAE) analyses and of the empirically-/theoretically-established functional relationships between: (a) the performance of the armor-grade-composite-protected structure and the properties of the composite material of which the structure is made; (b) composite-material properties and material microstructure (as characterized at different length-scales); and (c) material microstructure and material synthesis/processing route(s). In the present work, a preliminary effort is made towards applying the materials-by-design methodology to the development of armor-grade composite materials and protective structures with superior ballistic-penetration resistance. Specifically, CAE analyses are utilized to establish functional relationships between the attributes/properties of the composite material and the ballistic- penetration-resistance of the associated protective structure, and to identify the combination of these properties which maximizes the penetration resistance. Once the optimal set of material- model parameters is established, the microstructural features the material must possess to acquire this set of material-model parameters are identified. Finally, the material synthesis/processing route(s) required to achieve the desired set of material microstructural features is established.
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