Impact-Dissipating Capacity of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Samples, Fabricated by Fused Filament Fabrication

Abstract The use of additive manufacturing for the fabrication sacrificial cladding is becoming increasingly popular as it facilitates production complex yet space-saving protective structures. Despite this, effect several structural parameters on their capacity to mitigate high-velocity impacts remains elusive. Toward this end, shock-mitigating various short fiber-reinforced polymer samples was evaluated regarding impact velocity and mass (raging from 1 8.3 m/s 5.5 7.5 Kg, respectively). Among assessed were peak force (measured vary by up 46.6%), max. mean deceleration values (with differences documented at 29.5% 48.2%, respectively) cushion factor. As expected, progressive crushing modes differed significantly across spectrum tested samples. Structural failure involved growth inter- intra-laminar cracks, fiber-matrix de-bonding de-lamination, which dependent equivalent pore volume fraction compressive strength. Increasing infill density led in most cases higher forces during impact, did deposition more solid peripheral layers, with latter producing a superior plateau. Evaluated collectively, results indicate that an 37% 4 external (protective) layers exhibited response among