Influence of asymmetric hybridization on impact response of 3D orthogonal woven composites

The mechanical and failure behavior under high velocity impact of asymmetric hybrid three-dimensional orthogonal woven composite (3DWC) were investigated through experiments and finite element modeling. Two types of non-hybrid and one asymmetric hybrid 3DWCs panels were manufactured with the combination of carbon and Kevlar fiber tows and tested under different impact energies. The hybrid panels were impacted on both faces separately to analyze the directional behavior under impact loading. The energy absorption capability of the hybrid material is sufficiently increased when impacted on carbon face due to diversified failure behavior of carbon and Kevlar layers. Damage in Kevlar layers was due to fiber rupture and pull-out while in carbon layers, damage was induced by matrix cracking and brittle fiber failure. The impact response is simulated through continuum shell based finite element model using connector element technique. The proposed methodology gives a fair comparison with the experimental data in terms of failure behavior of the hybrid material during the impact process.