Investigation of Repeated Low Velocity Impact Behaviour of GFRP /Aluminium and CFRP /Aluminium Laminates

The objective of this research was to investigate esponse of repeated low velocity impact tests on glass fibre/ epoxy-Al metal laminates (GEAML) and carbon fibre/ epoxy-Al metal laminates (CEAML) at the same location using drop-weight tester. CEAML, GEAML as well as monolithic Al panels of the same thickness were impacted repeatedly up to four impacts. The effect of repeated impacts on specimen is studied on peak load, absorbed energy, decelerated velocity and impact time with respect to deflection at impactor load of 5.2 kg under gravity fall. The result shows the Al plates, GEAML and CEAML exhibit different behaviour for both loading bearing capacity and damage pattern. The maximum load bearing capacity is higher in case of monolithic aluminium but damage spread throughout the specimen, which contribute to the energyabsorbing capacity of these Al plates. In the case of GEAML and CEAML the damage is concentrated only at impact area hence lower energy-absorbing capacity.