Investigation in to damage pattern and extension of unsaturated resin/glass fiber nanocomposite reinforced by nanoclay

Hemispherical tip projectile with diameter of 8.7mm and weight of 11.54g projectile were impacted onto glass fiber /unsaturated polyester/ organoclay nanocomposite panels to determine the damage resistance of nanocomposite structures with different content of nanoclay for a number of laminate thicknesses, 4, 8 and 12 layer, and to observe the resulting damage modes that occur over a wide range of velocity. High velocity impact tests were conducted with fully clamped boundary conditions. It is shown that there is different fracture mechanisms involved for nanocomposite materials under high-velocity impact; these include delamination, shear plugging, matrix cracking, and tensile failure of bers, which are in direct contact with projectile head, back face cone formation of composite target and friction associated with contact between projectile outer surface area, and composite target, which experience penetration and perforation. Experimental data indicate a very good relationship between the delaminating areas and the initial impact velocities. Increasing in initial impact velocity lead to increasing in delamination area which was measured by using an Image J program. Delamination area for back face of nanocomposite was higher than of impacted face of nanocomposite.

Keywords:

nanocomposite , high velocity impact , damage assesment