Experimental assessment of low velocity impact damage in flax fabrics reinforced biocomposites by coupled high-speed imaging and DIC analysis

Structural composite materials with good impact resistance are required in several industrial sectors to design parts submitted crashes or falling objects. This work investigates the behaviour of flax fabrics-epoxy and commingled flax-polypropylene (PP) fibres plates manufactured using compression moulding process. An instrumented drop tower was used conduct low velocity tests at energies high-speed imaging coupled DIC analysis assess damage evolution. A crack-tracking algorithm implemented ImageJ identify initiation propagation cracks. comparison force-displacement histories camera results for both composites were different modes critical energy complete penetration. The proposed method is able depict successive events that lead breakage biocomposites it will be a valuable tool investigate other as well.