Vibration and Energy Dissipation of Nanocomposite Laminates for Below Ballistic Impact Loading

Abstract

Composite laminates are made of glass woven roving mats of 610gsm, epoxy resin and nano clay which are subjected to projectile impact. Nano clay dispersion is varied from 1% to 5%. Impact tests are conducted in a gas gun setup with a spherical nose cylindrical projectile of diameter 9.5 mm of mass 7.6 g. The energy absorbed by the laminates when subjected to impact loading is studied, the velocity range is below ballistic limit. The effect of nano clay on energy absorption in vibration, delamination and matrix crack is studied for different weight % of nano clay and for different thickness values of the laminates. The natural frequencies and damping factors are obtained for the laminates during impact and the effect of nano clay is studied. The results show considerable improvement in energy absorption due to the presence of nano clay

A Review of Recent Advances in Nanoengineered Polymer Composites

“…It was observed by the authors that clay dispersion in the matrix decreases the energy absorbing capability of specimens with clay up to 5% in the failure modes of delamination and matrix cracking for below ballistic impact velocities [59]. A three-layer specimen with 5% clay absorbed 50% less energy due to damage from delamination and matrix cracking than the neat epoxy specimen for an impact velocity of 82 m/s, which was also less than the perforation velocity.…”