Failure Modeling and Validation of PMMA Plates under High-velocity Impact

LU Zitong; LU Hongyu; ZHANG Yun; ZHANG Xiaowen; YAN Yue

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.09.002

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (9) : 12-20. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.09.002

Failure Modeling and Validation of PMMA Plates under High-velocity Impact

LU Zitong¹, LU Hongyu², ZHANG Yun^1,*, ZHANG Xiaowen², YAN Yue²

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Abstract

To address the difficulty in predicting the failure of aerospace transparent components under high-velocity impact loading, the work aims to establish a failure model capable of accurately describing the high-velocity impact behavior of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), providing a theoretical basis for the impact-resistant design and safety evaluation of transparent structures. Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiments were conducted to obtain the stress-strain curves of PMMA at high strain rates, based on which the parameters of the DSGZ constitutive model were calibrated. The constitutive relation was implemented in Abaqus through a VUMAT subroutine, and a failure criterion coupling the equivalent chain stretch with hydrostatic pressure (λ_fmax=1.155, p_c=80 MPa) was introduced to describe material failure. Furthermore, normal impact experiments of an 8 mm diameter steel spherical projectile on PMMA plates were carried out to obtain key response indicators, including failure morphology, residual projectile velocity, and damage diameter. Corresponding numerical simulation models were established to reproduce the penetration process under different impact conditions. The SHPB simulation results indicated that the DSGZ constitutive model could effectively reproduce the dynamic mechanical response of PMMA at high strain rates. The projectile penetration simulations showed good agreement with the experimental observations in terms of failure morphology, damage distribution, and failure modes. Quantitatively, the average relative errors of the residual projectile velocity and the damage diameter were 6.06% and 2.16%, respectively. The proposed failure criterion, coupling the equivalent chain stretch and hydrostatic pressure, is capable of effectively describing the failure behavior of PMMA under high-velocity impact conditions.

Key words

PMMA / projectile penetration / SHPB / failure model / finite element simulation

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LU Zitong, LU Hongyu, ZHANG Yun, ZHANG Xiaowen, YAN Yue. Failure Modeling and Validation of PMMA Plates under High-velocity Impact[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(9): 12-20 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.09.002

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