Barely visible impact damage in scaled composite laminates: Experiments and numerical simulations

In this paper, the impact behavior of Kevlar/glass fiber hybrid composite laminates was investigated by performing the drop weight impact test (ASTM D7136). Composite laminates were fabricated using vacuum bagging process with an epoxy matrix reinforced with twill Kevlar woven fiber and plain glass woven fiber. Four different types of composite laminates with different ratios of Kevlar to glass fiber (0:100, 20:80, 50:50 and 100:0) were manufactured. The effect of Kevlar/glass fiber content on the impact damage behavior was studied at 43J nominal impact energy. Results indicated that hybridization of Kevlar fiber to glass fiber improved the load carrying capability, energy absorbed and damage degree of composite laminates with a slight reduction in deflection. These results were further supported through the damage pattern analysis, depth of penetration and X-ray evaluation tests. Based on literature work, studies that have been done to investigate the impact behaviour of woven Kevlar/glass fiber hybrid composite laminates are very limited. Therefore, this research concentrates on the effect of Kevlar on the impact resistance properties of woven glass fibre reinforced polymer composites.

Download Full-text

Microstructural analysis of impact damage in two glass/epoxy composite laminates

Composites Engineering ◽

10.1016/0961-9526(93)90031-e ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 55-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A.B. Doucet ◽

J. Qin

Keyword(s):

Composite Laminates ◽

Epoxy Composite ◽

Impact Damage ◽

Microstructural Analysis

Download Full-text

Effect of Nylon-66 nano-fiber interleaving on impact damage resistance of epoxy/carbon fiber composite laminates

Composite Structures ◽

10.1016/j.compstruct.2009.11.009 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 92 (6) ◽

pp. 1432-1439 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Paul Akangah ◽

Shivalingappa Lingaiah ◽

Kunigal Shivakumar

Keyword(s):

Carbon Fiber ◽

Composite Laminates ◽

Impact Damage ◽

Fiber Composite ◽

Carbon Fiber Composite ◽

Nylon 66 ◽

Damage Resistance ◽

Nano Fiber

Download Full-text

Erratum to “Impact damage characterisation of composite laminates using a statistical approach” [Compos. Sci. Technol. 72 (2012) 1108–1120]

Composites Science and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.06.020 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 72 (12) ◽

pp. 1477

Author(s):

M.T.H. Sultan ◽

K. Worden ◽

W.J. Staszewski ◽

A. Hodzic

Keyword(s):

Composite Laminates ◽

Statistical Approach ◽

Impact Damage

Download Full-text

Optimal Design and Testing of a Thermoplastic Pressurized Passenger Door Manufactured Using Thermoforming

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13193394 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 3394

Author(s):

Roman Růžek ◽

Josef Křena ◽

Radek Doubrava ◽

Josef Tkadlec ◽

Martin Kadlec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulations ◽

Impact Damage ◽

Research Work ◽

Variable Cross Section ◽

Mechanical Tests ◽

Point Of View ◽

Topological Optimization ◽

Variable Cross ◽

Thermoplastic Resin ◽

Significant Difference

The present paper documents and discusses research work associated with a newly designed passenger door structure demonstrator. The composite structure was manufactured from carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin. A composite frame with a variable cross-section was designed, optimized, and fabricated using thermoforming technology. Both numerical simulations and experiments supported structural verification according to the damage tolerance philosophy; i.e., impact damage is presented. The Tsai-Wu and maximal stress criteria were used for damage analysis of the composite parts. Topological optimization of the metal hinges from the point of view of weight reduction was used. All expected parameters and proposed requirements of the mechanical properties were proved and completed. The door panel showed an expected numerically evaluated residual strength (ultimate structure load) as well as meeting airworthiness requirements. No impact damage propagation in the composite parts was observed during mechanical tests, even though visible impact damage was introduced into the structure. No significant difference between the numerical simulations and the experimentally measured total deformation was observed. Repeated deformation measurements during fatigue showed a nonlinear structure behavior. This can be attributed to the relaxation of thermoplastics.

Download Full-text

Impact Damage Research of Sandwich Composite Laminates

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.710.136 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 710 ◽

pp. 136-141

Author(s):

Li Jun Wei ◽

Fang Lue Huang ◽

Hong Peng Li

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Composite Laminates ◽

Impact Damage ◽

Low Velocity Impact ◽

Sandwich Composite ◽

Low Velocity ◽

Compression Process ◽

Velocity Impact ◽

Residual Compressive Strength ◽

Core Materials

Sandwich composite laminates structure is a classic application of composite material on actual aircraft structural. Dealing with low-velocity impact damage and residual compressive strength of sandwich composite laminates, explicit finite element method of ABAQUS/Explicit software was adopted to simulate low-velocity impact and compression process. Impact response and invalidation on compression between sandwich composite laminates with different core materials and regular composite laminates were compared. The simulation results indicated that softer core materials can absorb more impact energy, reduce the structure damage and enhance the residual compressive strength after impact.

Download Full-text

Microtomographic Analysis of Impact Damage in FRP Composite Laminates: A Comparative Study

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1155/2013/521860 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Alemi-Ardakani ◽

A. S. Milani ◽

S. Yannacopoulos ◽

L. Bichler ◽

D. Trudel-Boucher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Composite Laminates ◽

Impact Damage ◽

Glass Fibers ◽

Impact Testing ◽

Frp Composites ◽

Frp Composite ◽

Flexural Testing ◽

Close Relationship ◽

High Level ◽

Tomographic Analysis

With the advancement of testing tools, the ability to characterize mechanical properties of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites under extreme loading scenarios has allowed designers to use these materials in high-level applications more confidently. Conventionally, impact characterization of composite materials is studied via nondestructive techniques such as ultrasonic C-scanning, infrared thermography, X-ray, and acoustography. None of these techniques, however, enable 3D microscale visualization of the damage at different layers of composite laminates. In this paper, a 3D microtomographic technique has been employed to visualize and compare impact damage modes in a set of thermoplastic laminates. The test samples were made of commingled polypropylene (PP) and glass fibers with two different architectures, including the plain woven and unidirectional. Impact testing using a drop-weight tower, followed by postimpact four-point flexural testing and nondestructive tomographic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between the type of fibre architecture and the induced impact damage mechanisms and their extensions.

Download Full-text