Effects of Ply Orientations and Stacking Sequences on Impact Response of Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF)/Carbon Hybrid Laminate Composites

This study investigated the impact response behaviours of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/carbon hybrid laminate composites for different ply orientations and stacking sequences. The laminates were manufactured using a vacuum infusion approach with various stacking sequences and ply orientations classified as symmetric quasi-isotropic, angle-ply symmetric, and cross-ply symmetric. The laminates were analysed using an IMATEK IM10 drop weight impact tester with an increment of 5 J until the samples were perforated. This investigation reveals that the overall impact properties of PALF and carbon as reinforcements were improved by a beneficial hybridised effect. The laminates with an exterior carbon layer can withstand high impact energy levels up to 27.5 J. The laminate with different stacking sequences had a lower energy transfer rate and ruptured at higher impact energy. The laminates with ply orientations of [0 degrees/90 degrees] and [+/- 45 degrees](8) exhibited 10% to 30% better energy absorption than those with ply orientations of [+/- 45 degrees(2), 0 degrees/90 degrees(2)](s) and [0 degrees/90 degrees(2), +/- 45 degrees(2)](s) due to energy being readily transferred within the same linear ply orientation. Through visual inspection, delamination was observed to occur at the interfaces of different stacking sequences and ply orientations.

Automated summary

This study investigated the impact response behaviors of PALF/carbon hybrid laminate composites for different ply orientations and stacking sequences. The results showed that the hybrid effect of PALF and carbon as reinforcements improved the overall impact properties of the laminates. The stacking sequence and ply orientation had an influence on the energy absorption capacity of the laminates.