Study on behavior and mechanism of low-velocity impact and post-impact flexural properties of carbon-aramid/epoxy resin laminated composites

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the effects of the hybrid effect and stacking configuration of carbon fiber and aramid fiber fabric on the low-velocity impact and post-impact flexural properties of composite laminates. The damage characteristics and mechanism of the composite surface and interior were analyzed. The results show that the ACACA laminated structure combines the advantages of carbon fiber’s high strength and aramid fiber’ high toughness, showing the most excellent impact resistance and the residual flexural property. Micro-CT analysis indicates the damage modes of ACACA laminates under impact is internal delamination failure, and that the delamination phenomenon is evenly distributed along the thickness direction. The damage modes under post-impact flexural are fiber kink, drawing and delamination. This is because aramid fibers distributed at intervals in the laminate can effectively spread the stress to a larger area along the in-plane direction, thus reducing the material damage caused by stress concentration.