Transverse compression behavior of Kevlar KM2 single fiber

This paper investigates the quasi static transverse compression behavior of Kevlar KM2 single fiber widely used in high velocity impact (HVI) applications. The nominal stress-strain response of single fibers exhibits nonlinear inelastic behavior under transverse compression. The nonlinearity is due to both geometric and material nonlinearities. The inelastic behavior is attributed to plastic deformation and microstructural damage resulting from fibrillation and micro cracking. The experimental set up allows for the observation and measurement of compressed width in real time. An experimental methodology is presented to determine the fiber material constitutive behavior by removing the geometric nonlinearity due to the growing contact area. Results from finite element model of the test method are correlated with the experimental results to assess the accuracy of the constitutive model.