Permanent indentation and damage creation of laminates with different composite systems: An experimental investigation

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 872 - 883
• Main Authors: Guan, Zhidong, He, Wei, Chen, Jianhua, Liu, Lu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2014; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Damage; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; Formations; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Impact tests; Indentation; Laminates; Peak load; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Technology of polymers; Fibre fracture; Stacking sequence; Laminate; Fiber reinforced material; Mechanical properties; Hardness; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Bismaleimide resin; Impact strength; Damaging; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.22731

Quasi‐static indentation (QSI) and low‐velocity impact tests have been conducted to laminated composite specimens made from different composite systems. C‐scan and thermal deply techniques were used to observe the internal damage characteristics of the laminates. The test results show the effect of fibers and matrices on the permanent indentation and damage behaviors of composite laminates. Fiber breakage plays an important role in the formation of permanent indentation and the match between the fiber and matrix also has a significant influence on the permanent indentation and damage behaviors. A comparison shows the correlation between the peak load energy of the QSI tests and the knee point energy of the impact tests, based on which a condition for the prominent indentation formation was proposed for the impact tests. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:872–883, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers