Protective performance and dynamic behavior of composite body armor with shear stiffening gel as buffer material under ballistic impact

To solve the problem of insufficient protective performance existing body armor, an impact-resistant shear stiffening gel (SSG) with excellent flexibility and formability was innovatively used as buffer plate for then combined ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) ballistic panel to form a UHMWPE/SSG composite armor. Based on impact experiment numerical simulation, effect performance, dynamic behavior mechanism were analyzed systematically. The results indicated that flexible SSG could quickly stiffen under impact, thereby producing strong “Jamming” resist deformation absorb energy. Moreover, enhanced increase load, showed distribution mode weakened from area periphery. Compared traditional materials, more energy dispersed absorbed by SSG, but less transmitted human body. Therefore, strength backface signature also significantly reduced (up 50%), which armor material exhibited superior performance.