Impact response and damage resistance behavior of GFRP/aluminium fiber metal laminates during low velocity impact test

Abstract

Fiber metal laminates (FMLs) are widely used for aerospace applications. Impact response and damage resistance are the two important parameters to be considered for the effective use of FMLs. Glass fiber/epoxy-aluminium metal laminate (GEAML) is a class of FML prepared as a laminate with glass fiber mats and aluminium metal sheets staked in alternate layers with epoxy adhesive bonding. In this experimental work, woven fiber mats and chopped strand mats (CSM) of glass fiber were used along with aluminium sheets to prepare Woven based GEAML and CSM based GEAML respectively. Low velocity impact test was conducted as per ASTM standards using an instrumented falling weight impact testing machine on woven based GEAML and CSM based GEAML. For comparison, aluminum sheets of the same thickness were also subjected to low velocity impact test. The woven based GEAML withstood higher impact load and its absorbed energy is 3.4% higher than that of CSM based GEAML. The damage area and the depth of penetration of Woven based GEAML are much lower than that of CSM based GEAML and aluminum sheets. The woven based GEAML exhibited better impact response and damage resistance than CSM based GEAML and aluminum sheets.