Numerical Analysis and Experimental Verification of Ti/APC-2/Kevlar Hybrid Composite Laminates Due to Low-Velocity Impact

Abstract

The mechanical properties of Ti/APC-2/Kevlar/epoxy hybrid composite laminates after low velocity impact were investigated at room temperature. There were three types of samples, including three layered [Ti/(0/90) s /Ti], five layered [Ti/(0/90) 2 / Ti ] s and nine layered [Ti/Kevlar/Ti/(0/90) 2 / Ti ] s. The lay-ups of APC-2 were cross-ply, while Ti layers were treated by chromic acid anodic method. Ti and APC-2 were stacked to fabricate the composite laminates via hot press curing process. Kevlar layers were added to fabricate nine-layered composite laminates via vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. The drop-weight tests were conducted with a hemispherical nosed projectile in 10 mm diameter. The impact loads were 5 kg and 10 kg and impact heights were adjusted to penetrate samples or the maximum height 1.50 m. The static tensile tests were conducted to measure the residual mechanical properties after impact. The free body drop tests were also simulated by using finite element method and software ANSYS LS-DYNA3D. The results showed that the bottom Ti layer absorbed more internal energy than the top Ti layer, then the cracks were found in the bottom Ti layer more often. The ultimate tensile strength reduced significantly after impact. The initial longitudinal compliance increased with the impact height increasing and decreased after the samples penetrated. Comparing the experimental data with the numerical results, it was found that the damage of the latter was more serious than that of the former. On the conservative side, the results of numerical simulation are acceptable and adopted for applications when no testing data available.