Experimental analysis on deformation and damage behavior of Al6061/SiC functionally graded plates under low-velocity impact

Abstract

Due to their promising features provided by ceramic and metal constituents in a single volume, Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) have received great attention for impact applications. Most of the available studies on the low-velocity impact behavior of FGMs have been carried out by analytical or numerical methods. This study addresses an experimental analysis on the low-velocity impact response of Al6061/SiC FGM plates. The influence of the material composition of the FGM plate (from metal-rich to ceramic-rich) on the energy absorption mechanisms as well as on the deformation and damage behavior was investigated. The ceramic-rich FGM plate exhibits a quasi-brittle response that includes a combination of elastoplastic indentation and brittle failures with increasing impact energy, while the metal-rich and linear FGM plates show elastoplastic behavior. Plastic deformation is the primary energy absorption mechanism for the metal-rich and linear FGM plates, whereas plastic deformation, brittle failures (radial cracks and conoidal crack/fracture), delamination, and pore collapse are effective on the energy absorption of the ceramic-rich FGM plate.