Compressive mechanics of warp-knitted spacer fabrics. Part II: A dynamic model

This part presents a dynamic model for predicting the impact compressive responses of warp-knitted spacer fabrics under various loading conditions using quasi-static compressive stress–strain data. The model was established based on a nonlinear mass-spring-damper system by considering spacer yarns as nonlinear springs with damping effect and representation of their stiffness by the constitutive model developed in Part I. Based on the dynamic model, the impact compressive responses of a typical warp-knitted spacer fabric was parametrically studied in terms of damping ratio, initial velocity, striker mass and contact area. The study indicates that damping can reduce the peak acceleration and peak displacement regardless of loading conditions, and the increase of the initial velocity can enhance the damping effect. Increasing initial velocity or striker mass while keeping the counterpart constant can increase the peak acceleration and peak displacement. However, at a constant kinetic energy, either increasing striker mass or decreasing initial velocity can reduce the peak acceleration, but the peak displacement keeps constant. The study also shows that an optimal size of the spacer fabric exists for achieving minimal peak acceleration under impact at a certain kinetic energy. Experimental validation by drop-weight impact tests demonstrates that the predictions of the dynamic model are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results. Using the quasi-static compressive data from a simple test, this dynamic model can numerically simulate the full time-response of warp-knitted spacer fabrics under various impact conditions.