A Comprehensive Assessment of Physico-Mechanical and Impact Resistance, Integrating DMA-Based Viscoelastic Analysis and Ballistic Assessment Via Testing and Simulation.

Abstract

Advanced composite materials have become indispensable in defense and aerospace industries due to their high strength‐to‐weight ratios and tunable mechanical properties. Under extreme service conditions, these materials must endure both quasi‐static loads and high‐velocity impacts, demanding a thorough understanding of their physico‐mechanical behavior and impact resistance. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) offers a powerful means to characterize viscoelastic properties—such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factor—across a range of temperatures and frequencies. These dependent parameters directly influence how a composite dissipates energy under dynamic loading, yet they are seldom linked quantitatively to ballistic performance. Ballistic assessment traditionally relies on experimental firing tests and post‐impact damage evaluation. This study delivers a holistic evaluation of the physico-mechanical performance and impact resistance of advanced composite systems by integrating Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)-based viscoelastic profiling with ballistic assessment through both experimental testing and finite-element simulations.