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Structural behaviour of fibre metal laminates subjected to a low velocity impact

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Abstract

Structural impact tests were first presented to cover typical fibre metal laminates (FMLs) subjected a low velocity projectile impact, which produced the corresponding load-displacement traces and deformation/failure modes for the validation of numerical models. Finite element (FE) models were then developed to simulate the impact behaviour of FMLs tested. The aluminium (alloy grade 2024-0) layer was modelled as an isotropic elasto-plastic material up to the on-set of post failure stage, followed by shear failure and tensile failure to simulate its failure mechanisms. The glass fibre laminate (woven glass-fibre reinforced composite) layer was modelled as an orthotropic material up to its on-set of damage, followed by damage initiation and evolution using the Hashin criterion. The damage initiation was controlled by failure tensile and compressive stresses within the lamina plane which were primarily determined by tests. The damage evolution was controlled by tensile/compressive fracture energies combined with both fibre and matrix. The FE models developed for the 2/1, 3/2 and 4/3 FMLs plates made with 4-ply and 8-ply glass fibre laminate cores were validated against the corresponding experimental results. Good correlation was obtained in terms of load-displacement traces, deformation and failure modes. The validated models were ready to be used to undertake parametric studies to cover FMLs plates made with various stack sequences and composite cores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GQ, UK

    JiYing Fan, ZhongWei Guan & W. J. Cantwell

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  1. JiYing Fan
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  2. ZhongWei Guan
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  3. W. J. Cantwell
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Correspondence to ZhongWei Guan.

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Fan, J., Guan, Z. & Cantwell, W.J. Structural behaviour of fibre metal laminates subjected to a low velocity impact. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 54, 1168–1177 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-011-4261-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-011-4261-9

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