Dynamic penetration behaviors of single/multi-layer graphene using nanoprojectile under hypervelocity impact

Single/multilayer graphene holds great promise in withstanding impact/penetration as ideal protective material. In this work, dynamic penetration behaviors of graphene has been explored using molecular dynamics simulations. The crashworthiness performance of graphene is contingent upon the number of layers and impact velocity. The variables including residual velocity and kinetic energy loss under different layers or different impact velocities have been monitored during the hypervelocity impact. Results show that there exists deviation from the continuum Recht–Ipson and Rosenberg–Dekel models, but these models tend to hold to reasonably predict the ballistic limit velocity of graphene with increasing layers. Besides, fractal theory has been introduced here and proven valid to quantitatively describe the fracture morphology. Furthermore, Forrestal–Warren rigid body model II still can well estimate the depth of penetration of multilayer graphene under a certain range of velocity impact. Finally, one modified model has been proposed to correlate the specific penetration energy with the number of layer and impact velocity.