_Applied_  
_sciences_  
_Article_  
**Enhancing the Ballistic Performances of 3D Warp Interlock Fabric Through Internal Structure as New Material for Seamless Female Soft Body**  
**Arnor Development**  
**[PERSON] 1,2,3,4,*\({}^{\copyright}\)**, [PERSON] 1,2,*\({}^{\copyright}\)**, [PERSON] 1,2, [PERSON] 3 and [PERSON] 3**  
1 Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Lille, Nord de France, 59000 Lille, France; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
2 Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries Textiles (ENSAIT), GEMTEX lab, 2 Allee Louise et Victor Champier, 59056 Roubaix, France  
3 Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, '[PERSON]' Technical University of Iasi, Dimitrie Mangeron Bd., 53, 700050 Iasi, Romania; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.L.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (I.C.)  
4 College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, 178 G.J. D. Road, Suzhou 215021, China  
* Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.A.A.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (F.B.)  
Received: 3 June 2020; Accepted: 13 July 2020; Published: 16 July 2020  
**Featured Application: Nowadays, 3D warp interlock fabric has become a promising fabric structure to apply in different applications due to its excellent molding ability. However, its performance toward ballistic impact for different threats must be investigated before application. The current research attempts to optimize the ballistic performances of 3D warp interlock fabrics for the development of seamless women's soft body armor. It was found that the warp yarn compositions inside the fabric structure affected the overall ballistic performances of the 3D warp interlock fabric panel. Samples that comprised nearly appropriate binder and stufler warp yarn ratio compositions inside the 3D warp interlock fabrics showed better energy absorption and lower BFS values than their counterpart traditional 2D plain fabrics.**  
This paper investigates the effects of warp yarns ratios on the ballistic performances of three-dimensional (3D) warp interlock p-aramid fabrics. Four 3D warp interlock variants with different binding and stufler warp yarns ratios were designed and developed. Except for warp yarns ratios, similar fabric parameters and manufacturing conditions were considered. Two-dimensional (2D) woven fabric having similar material characteristics and recommended for female seamless soft body armor are also considered for comparisons. Five ballistic panels, one from 2D plain weave fabric and the rest four from the other 3D warp interlock variants were prepared in a non-angled layer alignment and non-stitched but bust-shaped molded form. The ballistic test is carried out according to NJI (National Institute of Justice) standard-level IIIA. Back Face Signature (BFS) was then modeled and measured to compute both trauma and panels' energy-absorbing capability. The result showed significant ballistic improvement in the 3D warp interlock variant with optimum warp yarns ratios over traditional 2D plain weave fabrics. 3D warp interlock fabric panel made with 66.6% binding and 33.3% stufler warp yarn ratio revealed both lower BFS depth and higher energy absorbing capacity (%) than other panels made of 2D plain weave and 3D warp interlock fabric variants.  
**Keywords:** 3D warp interlock fabric; binding and stufler warp yarn ratios; women soft body armor; ballistic test; NJI standard; high-performance fiber