Accession Number:

AD0753101

Title:

Impact Strength and Toughness of Fiber Composite Materials

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ILLINOIS INST OF TECH CHICAGO DEPT OF METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Broutman, Lawrence J.
• Rotem, Assa

Report Date:

1972-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

56.0

Abstract:

In recent years the development of advanced high performance fiber composite materials was mainly concerned with achieving high modulus and strength materials. However, high strength and stiffness by themselves may not be adequate for many structural applications as this combination of properties usually produces a brittle material. For example, carbon fiber composites possess superior stiffness and strength to weight ratios, but are quite brittle and have very low energy absorption capability. The energy absorption capability of glass fiber reinforced epoxy and carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites has been studied by performing instrumented drop weight impact tests on beams. A drop weight impact machine was designed and built for this purpose. The strength and energy absorption of the composite beams has been measured as a function of impact velocity, impact mass, beam geometry, and also as a function of several composite material parameters. It has been shown that the strength and energy absorption of a beam are a function of impact velocity and the amount of energy supplied compared to the energy absorbed. The energy absorption is also a function of lamination plane orientation.

Descriptors:

• *COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• *REINFORCED PLASTICS
• CARBON FIBERS
• TOUGHNESS
• FRACTURE(MECHANICS)
• GLASS TEXTILES
• CRACK PROPAGATION
• IMPACT SHOCK
• SHOCK RESISTANCE
• EPOXY RESINS

Subject Categories:

• Laminates and Composite Materials

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE