An experimental program has been conducted to study the normal perforation of a small caliber projectile into textile/epoxy composite targets. This program is concerned with the determination of ballistic resistance for a set of targets, consisting of kevlar/epoxy and S-2 glass/epoxy composites with different thicknesses. The used textiles (kevlar-129 and S-2 glass) for manufacturing the composites have a new weave shape (3D weaveTM), which permits the epoxy resin to diffuse through it. In addition, tensile tests of manufactured composite specimens are performed to
determine their mechanical properties. The analytical model developed by Taylor and Vinson [1] is adopted herein to describe the penetration of a small caliber projectile into a textile/epoxy composite target. The selected model uses the circumferential strain as a failure criterion for a composite target. The main assumptions and equations representing the analytical model are presented. These equations are arranged and compiled into a computer program. The input data to run the program are easily determined. The ballistic measurements of the experimental program are compared with the model predictions; good agreement is generally obtained. The obtained results show that the tested composites with different thicknesses have a limited ballistic resistance against the used projectile. Moreover, other types of epoxies are recommended be used for manufacturing the composites and the effect of epoxy type as well as the delamination between composite layers on their ballistic resistance must be considered.