Experimental and numerical investigation into the impact resistance of aluminium carbon laminates

Carbon fibre-reinforced aluminium laminates are relatively new fibre-metal laminate materials. Their properties include low density, high resistance and rigidity, and high fatigue strength. This study aimed to evaluate the CARALL response to low-velocity impact, based on experimental tests and numerical analyses of damage initiation and propagation mechanisms. These experimental tests and numerical simulations involved the use of both quantitative and qualitative criteria for assessing the FML damage under dynamic load. It was shown that the mechanism of laminate damage is fairly complex and related to the internal degradation of the composite material with characteristic permanent deflection of the FML. Matrix fractures, carbon-fibre cracking, and delamination were found to be the main modes of damage. The delamination observed at the interfaces of specific multidirectional plies of the composite material and the delamination at the metal-composite interfaces were the critical damage modes of the FMLs. The proposed FEM, including its user-developed failure criteria and cohesive zone, can be used to further examine the influence of various parameters describing FMLs and other adhesive-bonded materials in an effective and reliable manner.