An experimental investigation of the impact response and Post-impact shear buckling behaviour of hybrid composite laminates

This paper investigates the effect of transverse impact loading on in-plane shear behaviour two laminate configurations. The extensive experimental studies consider a pure carbon (type 1) and novel X-shaped carbon/glass 2). results establish that all three graduated energy levels (5J, 7.5J 10J) induce through-thickness matrix cracking, fibre breakage delamination in type 1 laminate. However, use glass plies 2 laminates resulted only cracking towards impacted surface limited damage. Post impact, both types demonstrated lower buckling load, failure load stiffness. reduction specimens was greater than specimens. less seen Both stable post-buckling equilibrium path. A machine vision technique based polarisation imaging successful standardising process identifying damage location/size for laminates, but not laminates. due to inclusion which, unlike plies, do polarise light at point reflection.