The Boeing Company
Kinetic energy absorption method and absorptive composite article

Abstract:

A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a ply containing multiple substantially parallel fibers having inherent failure strains and having inherent moduli. A matrix material at least partially encapsulates the ply. The ply includes multiple lower strength length portions or multiple lower modulus length portions. The multiple lower strength length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have failure strains less than the inherent failure strains. The multiple lower modulus length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have moduli less than the inherent moduli. A designated pattern of the lower strength length portions or of the lower modulus length portions is distributed to selected locations identified in the ply. An absorptive method includes distributing a load across the designated pattern when the ply receives a force from kinetic energy.