Effect of metal layer placement on the damage and energy absorption mechanisms in aluminium/glass fibre laminates

• Published in: International journal of impact engineering 2018-09, Vol.119, p.14-25
• Main Authors: Khan, Sanan H., Sharma, Ankush P., Kitey, Rajesh, Parameswaran, Venkitanarayanan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abaqus; Aluminum; Aluminum composites; Damage; Delamination; Energy absorption; Evolution; Fiber reinforced composites; Fiber reinforced materials; Finite element method; GLARE; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Glass fibers; Impact resistance; Laminates; Layers; Low velocity impact; Placement; Thickness; Thickness measurement; Velocity; VUMAT
• ISSN: 0734-743X; 1879-3509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2018.04.011

•The current study focuses on the interaction occurring between middle metal/composite layers of the GLARE during the impact loading scenario.•The study is quantified by including different GLARE standards with dissimilar metal layer thicknesses to notice the effect on the damage resistance. Energy based comparison further highlights the pros and cons of adding one or two such interfaces inside the laminates.•Placement of metallic layers inside the GLARE laminate decreases its flexural strength but increases the energy dissipation in plasticity.•We believe that the findings from present study will be useful for structural engineer/manufacturer in making their careful choice in accordance with their requirement. This study focuses on the effect of metal layer distribution in glass fibre reinforced aluminium laminates (GLARE) subjected to low velocity impact. Four GLARE variants specimens were considered in which the metal layers of different thicknesses were placed at various positions in the layup while keeping the same total metal layer thickness. Experiments and Finite element (FE) analysis were performed to understand the behaviour of the GLARE specimens. A user written material subroutine VUMAT which incorporates Hashin failure criteria along with Puck's action plane concept were used to predict the response of the composite layers. The damage was evolved for each failure mode using the exponential damage evolution law. Interface delamination between the layers was initiated by cohesive surface behaviour which includes the friction effect between the plies. It was found that placement of thinner metal layer on top of the laminate and its distribution inside the layup lowers the impact resistance of GLARE. Moreover, the patterns of delamination are also affected by the placement of metal layer within the laminates. It was further shown that the propagation direction of delamination is governed by the fibre direction of lower ply of the interface.