Numerical and experimental investigations on the low‐velocity impact properties of hybrid Kevlar fiber/basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites: Effects of impactor nose shape and fiber stacking sequences
Mohammad Reza Karamooz, Hossein Rahmani, Hamed Khosravi
Abstract
Abstract In the present work, the effect of impactor nose shape and fiber stacking sequences on the low‐velocity impact properties of hybrid Kevlar/basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. The composite specimens were prepared using hand lay‐up method with six types of fiber stacking sequences including sandwich hybrid, intercalated hybrid and not‐hybrid. The impact tests were conducted using three types of impactor nose shapes (hemispherical, conical, and flat) at two impact energies of 40 and 60 J. Some characteristics of the composites like maximum force, absorbed energy, and damage area were evaluated. Also, the impact behavior of the composites was simulated in Abacus finite element software and the obtained results were compared with the experimental values. The results indicated the hybridization of Kevlar by basalt fibers (intercalated hybrid) considerably improved the impact properties of the specimen. Besides, when the conical impactor was employed, the highest absorbed energy and damaged area were obtained.