Author(s)

W.J. Cantwell, N. Jones, G. A. Wade, G. Reyes, J. F. Guillen & P. Compston

Abstract

The low and high velocity impact response of a range of fibre metal laminates based on fibre-reinforced thermoplastics has been examined. Single cantilever beam tests on simple bi-material samples have shown that the level of adhesion between the composite and metal substrates is excellent in all systems. Subsequent low velocity impact tests on laminates based on a 3/2 configuration have highlighted the impressive post-impact load-bearing capacity of these structures. A series of high velocity impact tests have shown that these fibre-metal laminates offer an outstanding resistance to perforation by a solid projectile. Here, failure mechanisms such as fibre fracture and matrix cracking in the composite plies and plastic folding within the aluminium layers have been shown to contribute to the impressive perforation resistance of these systems.

Keywords