Investigation of Composite Materials for Significant Damping Response in Automotive Applications

Abstract

Through the examination of composite components, engineers and manufacturers can enhance their understanding of failure criteria, the initiation of initial failures, and the propagation of damage within laminates. This study delves into the evolution of impact-induced degradation and establishes upper limits on force or Hertz failure thresholds for three distinct composite categories. Impact investigations reveal that the strength of composite materials significantly increases under dynamic impact conditions compared to static ones, underscoring the material's sensitivity to loading rates. Composite materials play a crucial role in achieving effective ballistic protection for armor platforms, given the varying energy levels of the physical loads they must withstand based on their intended applications. Precise design and manufacturing are necessary to provide adequate protection against impacts of different energies: low-energy impacts from tools during maintenance and operations, intermediate-energy impacts from external elements striking the surface, and high-energy impacts from weapons. Fiber-reinforced composite materials find widespread use across the aviation, marine, and terrestrial industries due to their outstanding specific strength, weight reduction benefits, and ease of manufacturing. They are particularly crucial in aerospace and military applications. Polyester resins offer a cost-effective and easily moldable alternative to epoxy resins in many fiberglass applications. This study aims to explore the low-velocity impact characteristics of E-Glass composites, which are more readily available and cost-effective compared to other reinforced composites. The research focuses on evaluating the impact properties of these materials through testing three different samples.