Stress Wave Propagation in a Cloth- Laminate Carbon Phenolic

Abstract

The mechanical response of a cloth-laminate carbon phenolic, 2D-CP, to stress waves is examined. Acoustic water-bath experiments are used to obtain data about the propagation characteristics of low-amplitude waves, and plate-slap experiments are used to obtain data for finite-amplitude waves. From the data gathered in these experiments, a constitutive equa tion is derived for this material which is used to model its "thin-pulse- attenuation" characteristics. The results of the modeling illustrate that although this material is composed of high modulus fibers embedded in a low modulus matrix, it behaves for all intents and purposes as a homoge neous material.