Effect of intra-yarn hybridisation and fibre architecture on the impact response of composite laminates: Experimental and numerical analysis

Abstract

Advanced composite laminates (i.e. glass composite laminates) are highly susceptible to low velocity impact, and the induced damage failures substantially reduced their residual mechanical properties and safe-service life during their application. Therefore, experiments and simulation efforts to predict their low-velocity impact damages and energy absorbing have significant importance in composite structures design. In this regards, experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) with aiding Abaqus software were respectively performed to investigate the influence of yarn hybridisation on the response of composite laminates under low velocity impact. The hybrid yarns, which consisted of S-glass and polypropylene yarns have been used to manufacture two types of composites; non-crimp cross-ply hybrid yarns and twill hybrid fabric composites. Additionally, for comparison, the non-crimp cross-ply and twill fabric composite laminates have been made from glass fibres only. The vacuum infusion resin process has been adopted to manufacture these composite laminates. The impact performance of composite laminates has been investigated using low-velocity impact at 15 J, 35, and 50 impact energy levels. The numerical analysis was executed using Abaqus/Explicit and Hashin failure criteria and continuum damage mechanics by using homogenous shell were adopted to simulate the intra-laminar damage in layers. Meanwhile, standard cohesive inter-laminar interfaces that inserted between composite layers with quadratic stress failure criteria have been used to model delamination failures. The numerical results regarding impact force-time, displacement–time and energy-time histories plots, as well as the damage evolution behaviour of matrix crack and fibre fracture, presented an agreement with experimental results.

Improving the fracture toughness of glass/epoxy laminates through intra-yarns hybridisation

“…Figure 12 shows the mode-II fracture toughness values plotted against crack length. These values have been calculated by using equation (12). And the G IIc values of all samples measured at their peak forces are compared and presented in Table 4.…”

“…[1][2][3] Nevertheless, these laminates are particularly prone against delamination, which strongly reduces their properties such as the load-bearing capacity, compression strength, toughness, and fatigue life. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Therefore, the study to enhance the interlaminar fracture toughness of glass fibre laminates has drawn the attention of the designers and composites manufacturers. Delamination or inter-ply separation is the most predominant and crucial failure mechanism in composite laminates.…”

Improving the impact resistance and damage tolerance of fibre reinforced composites: A review

“…Numerous researches have been conducted to investigate the impact behaviour of NCF composite. Shyr et al 29 examined the damage failure growth and failure strength of composite laminates made from cross-ply NCF, E glass woven fabric and nonwoven mat during impact tests. It was evident from the results that the NCF had higher absorption of impact energy and higher delamination than other composite laminates.…”

“…[12][13][14] The industrial engineers and materials scientists constantly strive to improve the impact properties and fracture toughness of fiber-reinforced composites, which still remains a key challenge. In this regard, several researches have been conducted on experimental, [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] analytical 15,[24][25][26][27][28] and computational approaches [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] to understand the failure behavior of fibre reinforced composites against impact loading.…”

Influence of yarn-hybridisation on the mechanical performance and thermal conductivity of composite laminates

“…11 In order to ensure that impact induced composites do not catastrophically fail during service life and maintain maximum structural efficiency, the manufacturers and designers give significant attention to the post-impact properties such as compressive and flexural properties of composite laminates. [12][13][14] Hence, it is important to understand their ability to continue functioning properly after damage events by evaluating their residual strength either compressive or flexural strength after impact tests. [15][16][17][18] Many investigations have demonstrated that the damage tolerance of composite laminates can be improved by adopting different strategies.…”