The effect of solid particle erosion on the strength and fatigue properties of E-glass/epoxy composite was investigated. Solid particle erosion with SiC particles of 400 μm to 500 μm in diameter was simulated on 12 ply [45°/-45°/0°/45°/-45°/0°]s E-glass/epoxy composites with a constant particle velocity of 42.5 m/s and solid particle to air volume ratio of 6 kg/m3 at impact angles of 90°, 60°, and 30° for 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds. Damaged and undamaged specimens were subjected to tensile tests while monitoring their acoustic emission (AE) activity. An erosion damage parameter was defined as a function of the particle impact angle and erosion duration to determine the residual tensile strength of the composite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the erosion damaged specimens revealed the same damage mechanism occurred at different impact angles. The AE stress delay parameter was used to predict the residual tensile strength of erosion damaged composites. Tension-tension fatigue tests were performed on virgin specimens and specimens exposed to erosion damage of 60 seconds and 90 seconds at 90° particle impact angle to observe the effects of erosion damage on the fatigue life. A modified Basquin's equation was defined to predict the fatigue life of the erosion damaged specimens.
Impact Angle Dependence of Erosion by Solid Particle Impact for Metallic Materials
