Low-velocity impact resistance of thin-ply in comparison with conventional aluminium-carbon laminates

Abstract

This study present investigation on the low-velocity impact resistance of fibre metal laminates consisting of aluminium layers and a thin-ply carbon fibre reinforced polymer. A thin-ply effect is compared with fibre metal laminates consisting of conventional thickness plies. Low-velocity impact tests are conducted with impact energies ranging from 2.5 J to 30 J. The low-velocity impact behaviour of conventional and thin-ply laminates is estimated and compared by analysis of key characteristics describing impact during the impactor-laminate contact. In addition, impact damage of the laminates is analysed, focusing on the identification of dominant damage modes and locations. Results demonstrate that the use of a thin-ply carbon fibre reinforced polymer neither increases the low-velocity impact resistance of the laminates nor significantly changes their low-impact impact response as compared to the laminates with conventional ply thickness. Results demonstrate that the damage mechanism of the composite thin plies does not significantly differ from that of the conventional carbon plies. Results also confirm that the use of thin-ply fibre metal laminates is an interesting and promising materials solution.