Investigation of the Deformation Behaviour and Resulting Ply Thicknesses of Multilayered Fibre–Metal Laminates

• Published in: Journal of composites science Vol. 5; no. 7; p. 176
• Main Authors: Irani, Missam, Kuhtz, Moritz, Zapf, Mathias, Ullmann, Madlen, Hornig, Andreas, Gude, Maik, Prahl, Ulrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Adhesives; Carbon; channel forming; Coefficient of friction; Cooling; Deformation; Experiments; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fiber reinforced polymers; fibre–metal laminates; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Formability; Heat conductivity; Laminates; Layers; Light metals; Mass production; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Metal sheets; Plane strain; ply thickness; Polymers; Radiation; Room temperature; Stiffness; Strain analysis; Temperature dependence; Thermoplastic resins; Thickness; Two dimensional models
• DOI: 10.3390/jcs5070176
• ISSN: 2504-477X

Multilayered fibre–metal laminates (FMLs) are composed of metal semifinished products and fibre-reinforced plastics, and benefit from the advantages of both material classes. Light metals in combination with fibre-reinforced thermoplastics are highly suitable for mass production of lightweight structures with good mechanical properties. As the formability of light metal sheets is sometimes limited at room temperature, increasing the process temperature is an appropriate approach to improve formability. However, the melting of thermoplastic materials and resulting loss of stiffness limit the processing temperature. Since single-ply layers have different through-thickness stiffnesses, the forming process changes the ply thickness of the multilayered laminate. In the present study, the deformation behaviour of multilayered FMLs was investigated using a two-dimensional finite-element model assuming plane strain. The thermoelastic-plastic finite-element analysis made investigation of the variation in thickness made possible by incorporating sufficient mesh layers in the thickness direction. The results indicate that a thermoelastic-plastic finite-element model can predict the delamination of plies during deformation, as well as in the final product. Additionally, the predicted changes in thickness of the plies are in good agreement with experimental results when a temperature-dependent friction coefficient is used.