This paper reports the ballistic energy absorption of three-dimensional angle-interlock composite (3DAWC) based on a ballistic experiment and a theoretical model with high strain rate constitutive equation of fiber tows. The 3DAWC panels were penetrated under a hemispherical–cylindrical steel projectile, while time testers recorded the initial velocities and residual velocities of projectile in this process. The damage modes of 3DAWC are observed and analyzed from the view of penetrated damage morphologies and experimental velocity data. In order to demonstrate the energy absorption mechanism with more accuracy, a multi-scale finite element model of 3DAWC under ballistic penetration is specially designed and established to calculate this ballistic event. The constitutive relationship of the Twaron® filament yarn in microstructural model is derived from the springs and dashpots model and compiled into user-defined material subroutine in commercial-available finite element software package LS-DYNA, which can introduce strain rate sensitivity of fiber bundles to ballistic energy absorption process. A comparison of theoretical and experimental results shows a good agreement indicating an accurate validity of the multi-scale finite element model of 3DAWC. Moreover, this model can deeply reveal the ballistic energy absorption mechanism of 3DAWC which will help to evaluate the structural tolerance of ballistic protection composite material.

Negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) material with unique geometry is rare in nature and has an auxetic response under strain in a specific direction. With this unique property, this type of material is significantly promising in many specific application fields. The curling structure commonly exists in knitted products due to the unbalanced force inside a knit loop. Thus, knitted fabric is an ideal candidate to mimic natural NPR materials, since it possesses such an inherent curly configuration and the flexibility to design and process. In this work, a weft-knitted Miura-ori fold (WMF) fabric was produced that creates a self-folding three-dimensional structure with NPR performance. Also, a finite element analysis model was developed to simulate the structural auxetic response to understand the deformation mechanism of hierarchical thread-based auxetic fabrics. The simulated strain–force curves of four WMF fabrics quantitatively agree with our experimental results. The auxetic morphologies, Poisson’s ratio and damping capacity were discussed, revealing the deformation mechanism of the WMF fabrics. This study thus provides a fundamental framework for mechanical-stimulating textiles. The developed NPR knitted fabrics have a high potential to be employed in areas of tissue engineering, such as artificial blood vessels and artificial folding mucosa.

Craniofacial microsomia is a congenital deformity caused by asymmetric development of the skull (cranium) and face before birth. Current treatments include corrective surgery and replacement of the deformed structure using autograft tissue, which results in donor site morbidity. An alternative therapy can be achieved by developing a resorbable scaffold for skeletal muscle regeneration which will help restore the symmetry and function of the facial muscles and reduce donor site morbidity. Two resorbable weft knitted scaffolds were fabricated using poly(ε-caprolactone) multifilament yarns with unique auxetic design structures possessing negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR). These scaffolds exhibit their NPR elasticity through an increase in total volume as well as no lateral narrowing when stretched longitudinally, which can provide orientated mechanical supports to the cell growth of skeletal muscle regeneration. These scaffolds were evaluated for the required physical properties, mechanical performance and biocompatibility by culturing them with neonatal human dermal fibroblasts so as to determine their cell metabolic activity, cell attachment and proliferation. This study can facilitate the understanding and engineering of textile-based scaffolds for tissues/organs. The work also paves a pathway to emerge the NPR textiles into tissue engineering, which has an extensive potential for biomedical end-uses.