Influence of areal density on the energy absorbed by thin composite plates subjected to high-velocity impacts

Abstract

This work analyses the influence that the areal density of a composite thin-plate, made of glass-fibre woven laminates and subjected to high-velocity impact, exerts on perforation-threshold energy, contact time, and energy-absorption mechanisms. The perforation-threshold energy increased with the areal density. Also, the contact time increased at impact energies above the perforation-threshold energy and decreased below this threshold. The main energyabsorption mechanisms at impact energies close to that causing perforation were found to be the deformation and failure of the fibres, regardless of the areal density. For higher impact energies, the main mechanisms were fibre failure and the energy absorbed by acceleration of the laminate.

Experimental study of woven-laminates structures subjected to high-velocity impact

“…While similar behaviour of perforation velocity versus areal density have been described by other researchers for Kevlar-fibre laminates [28] and for thin laminates of E-glass/polyester [16], this result contradicts those of other authors who propose a nonlinear relationship between perforation velocity and areal density [12].…”

“…One of the main parameters affecting perforation is laminate thickness, which bears an intimate relationship with the areal density (composite mass per square metre) of the laminate. Numerous authors have studied the influence of these parameters on both projectile perforation velocity and the perforation-threshold energy of laminates with different fibres and resin matrices [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Examination of these relationships has produced contradictory results, and both linear and non-linear relationships between the minimum perforation velocity or minimum perforation energy and the thickness in composite plates have been observed.…”

“…Examination of these relationships has produced contradictory results, and both linear and non-linear relationships between the minimum perforation velocity or minimum perforation energy and the thickness in composite plates have been observed. [11][12][13][14][16][17][18][19].…”

“…These researchers applied an analytical model based on energy considerations in order to predict the variation of perforation velocity as a function of thickness. Furthermore, by using an analytical model, García-Castillo et al [16] found a linear variation for woven thin laminates of E-glass/polyester for thicknesses ranging from 3 mm to 6 mm when these were impacted by spherical projectiles.…”

Measurement of ballistic impact properties of woven kenaf–aramid hybrid composites

“…Romano et al [26] studied the enhanced properties for the hybrid lay-up by stacking sequences. In addition, other parameters affecting perforation are the areal or surface densities of the laminates [35].…”