Compression after ballistic impact response of pseudoelastic shape memory alloy embedded hybrid unsymmetrical patch repaired glass-fiber reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

This paper investigated the influence of embedding pseudoelastic shape memory alloy within the external bonded patch made up of glass fibers on the compression after impact response of adhesively bonded external patch repaired glass/epoxy composite laminates. Unsymmetrical patch repair was employed in the current studies. Three innovative pseudoelastic shape memory alloy configurations (straight wired, meshed and anchored) were embedded inside the patch and the changes in high-velocity impact response and damage tolerance at four impact velocities (70, 85, 95, 105 m/s) were compared with the conventional glass/epoxy (glass fiber-reinforced polymer) patch. Anchored specimens showed the best response by improving the compressive strength by 25% under non-impacted conditions and restoring it by 88%, 77%, 29%, and 28% at the impact velocity of 70, 85, 95, and 105 m/s, respectively, in comparison to the conventional normal specimens.