Open Access

ABSTRACT

Low-Velocity Impact Response of Braided Carbon/Epoxy Composites

M.V.Hosur¹, M. M. Islam, S. Jeelani

1 Center for Advanced Materials, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36117, USA

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences 2008, 6(1), 81-90. https://doi.org/10.3970/icces.2008.006.081

Abstract

In this paper, low-velocity impact response of braided composites is presented. Three types of braided fabrics were used. They were:$\pm$45, 0/$\pm$45, and 0/$\pm$60. Laminates with 7 layers of$\pm$45 and 4 layers of 0/$\pm$45, and 0/$\pm$60 were fabricated by vacuum assisted resin infusion molding process to get an average thickness ranging from 2.25 to 2.4 mm. Samples of size 10$\times$ 10 cm were then cut from the panels and impacted at 10, 20 and 30 J. Impact parameters like peak load and absorbed energy were calculated and normalized for thickness. All the samples were then subjected to ultrasonic c-scan testing to determine the damage size. From the results it was seen that laminates sustained the load without any damage at 10J, a little damage at 20 J and more damage at 30J. Triaxial laminates carried more load than the biaxial laminates. From ultrasonic tests it was seen that the 0/$\pm$45 laminates had the highest damage.

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