Impact resistance of fiber-metal laminates: A review

Combining the suitable properties of metals and fiber reinforced composites, as the idea behind the application of new types of materials, called fiber metal laminates (FMLs), have lead to superior impact properties as well as considerable improvement in fatigue performance. The characteristics of FMLs under impact loading and the ways to improve their properties to withstand this type of loading could be of particular importance in aerospace structures and other applications. This paper reviews relevant literature which deals with experimental evidence of material related and event related impact resistance parameters as well as the articles related to theoretical and numerical simulation of impact loading of FMLs. Relevant results will be discussed and the recommendations that need to be resolved in the future will be addressed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.