Experimental and finite element study on high-velocity impact resistance and energy absorption of hybrid and non-hybrid fabric reinforced polymer composites

High-velocity impact resistance of FRP composites consisting of Kevlar, carbon and glass in hybrid and non-hybrid stacking sequences was studied through experimental and finite element analysis. Neat Kevlar/epoxy and Kevlar/glass/epoxy sandwich composites have the 1st and 2nd highest impact energy absorption percentage (100% and 97.99%, respectively). Carbon/epoxy composite exhibited the least energy absorption (38.78%). Other hybrid composites showed intermediate values of energy absorption in the range 38.58%–44.11%. Hybridization did not show any improvement in interlaminar shear strength of composites either. However, hybridizing Kevlar based composites with glass in the middle layer offered impact resistance close to Kevlar/epoxy composite while offering a 21% saving in material cost. Thus, such Kevlar and glass fabric-based sandwich composites possess a great potential as protective structures due to their ability to withstand impacts up to 200 m.s−1 velocity. These composites may also be considered for development of protective armor that are light-weight compared to conventional materials and more affordable. Finite element simulation results are in good agreement with that of experimental results with differences below 14%.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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   Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Manufacturing, Properties, and Applications · 2019

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