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The purpose of the study was to develop the forming methodology for FML laminates with complex shapes, based on aluminium and epoxy-glass composite.

The subject of research encompassed Al/GFRP fibre metal laminates. Autoclave process has been selected for FML profiles production. The manufacturing process was followed by quality analysis for laminates produced.

The achievement of high stability and dimensional tolerance of thin-walled FML laminates is ensured by developed technology. The values of selected sections angles are significantly limited as a result of forming of FML laminates through the components performing. Failure to adhere to technological recommendations and to high regime of developer technology may lead to the occurrence of defects in FML.

Thin-walled composite structures could be applied in light-weight constructions, such as aircraft structures, which must meet rigorous requirements with regard to operation under complex load. The development of this type of technology may contribute to increased importance of FML sections in research area and finally to increased scope of their applications.

The production of thin-walled FML profiles with complex geometry, which would be characterized by dimensional stability and repeatable structural quality free of defects, is associated with many problems. No studies have been published so far on an effective forming process for FML laminates with complex shapes. Developed methodology has been verified through quality evaluation of produced profiles by means of non-destructive and destructive methods. The development of this type of technology may contribute to increased importance of FML, e.g. in aerospace technology.

Fibre metal laminates were developed at Delft University during the last two decades as a family of new hybrid materials consisting of bonded thin metal sheets and fibre/adhesive layers. This laminated structure provides the material with excellent fatigue, impact and damage tolerance characteristics and a low density. While the 20 per cent weight reduction was the prime driver behind the development of this new family of materials, it turns out that additional benefits like cost reduction and an improved safety level have become more and more important. The combination of these aspects in one material makes fibre metal laminates a strong candidate material for fuselage skin structures of the new generation of high capacity aircraft. The focus on this application currently leads to industrialization and qualification that makes this material available to the aircraft designer.

The purpose of this paper was to compare the response of selected hybrid Fibre Metal Laminates (FMLs) in the form of glass and carbon fibre aluminium laminates to dynamic and static loads compared together.

The subject of examination was FMLs (Al/CFRP and Al/GFRP). The samples were subjected to low-velocity impact and quasi-static indentation. The response of laminates to the both types of loads was evaluated by comparison of force – displacement diagrams including the values of maximum forces as well as the extent and nature of structure degradation as a result of loads.

In case of Al/GFRP laminates, the analysis of characteristic relations, i.e. force – displacement and the impactor influence area in case of indentation and impact confirmed that certain parameters, i.e. the values of maximum force transferred by laminate, destruction surface area and destruction mechanisms are consistent after static and dynamic tests. Significant differences were found in destruction scale in Al/GFRP laminates despite considerable fitting of force – displacement diagrams to static and dynamic tests. Destruction surface area observed in FML carbon laminates subjected to dynamic loads was significantly smaller than after indentation but perforation area occurring at the unloaded side was much more extensive.

Research issues in the scope of dynamic loads by means of concentrated force in composite materials and interpretation of the effects of their impacts are extremely complex. Therefore, the attempts are made to predict the resistance to dynamic loads by means of concentrated force using statistical research methods. The test results might be useful for the design and simulations of FMLs applications in aerospace.

From the analysis of available literature, it appears that there are no studies exploring the issue of forecasting or comparison the effects of static and dynamic tests for hybrid FMLs. The new hybrid materials like FMLs have different mechanisms of damage initiation and propagation as a result of impact, in comparison to classic composite materials. It means that possibilities of using the static loads to predict impact resistance should be known well for all type of FMLs. Actually, there is no research about static indentation in relation to low-velocity impact of aluminium-carbon laminates. This situation encouraged the authors of the present study to undertake research in this scope. The results can demonstrate and explain why prediction of impact resistance of FMLs by using static indentation is uncertain and not always valuable.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the results of reinforcing fibre metal laminates with glass fibres under low-cycle fatigue conditions in a limited number of cycles.

The tests were carried out on open-hole rectangular specimens loaded in tension-tension at high load ranges of 80 and 85 per cent of maximum force determined in static test, correspondingly. The number of cycles for destruction has been determined experimentally.

By means of microscopic observations, it was possible to determine the moment of crack initiation and their growth rate. Furthermore, it was possible to identify the impact of reinforcing fibre orientation in composite layers, material creating the metal layers, on fatigue life and on nature of crack propagation.

This work validates the possibility of increasing the resistance of fibre metal laminates to low-cycle fatigue by modifying the structure of the laminate.

The resistance of fibre metal laminates on low-cycle fatigue is not widely described and the phenomena occurring during degradation are poorly understood.

The purpose of this paper is to predict the response and perforation of fibre metal laminates (FMLs) subjected to impact by projectiles at different velocities.

A finite element (FE) model is constructed in which recently proposed dynamic constitutive models for fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates and metals are used. Moreover, a recently developed dynamic cohesive element constitutive model is also used to simulate the debonding between FRP laminates and metal sheets. The FE model is first validated against the test data for glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy (GLARE) both under dropped object loading and ballistic impact, then used to perform a parametric study on the influence of projectile nose shape on the perforation of FMLs.

It is found that the present model predicts well the response and perforation of GLARE subjected to impact loading in terms of load-time history, load-displacement curve, residual velocity and failure pattern. It is also found that projectile nose shape has a considerable effect on the perforation of GLARE FMLs and that the ballistic limit is the highest for a flat-ended projectile whilst for a conical-nosed missile the resistance to perforation is the least.

Recently developed constitutive models for FRPs and metals, together with cohesive element model which considers strain rate effect, are used in the FE model to predict the behaviour of FMLs struck by projectiles in a wider range of impact velocities; the present model is advantageous over such existing models as Johnson-Cook (JC) + Chang-Chang and JC (+BW) + MAT162 in terms of failure pattern though they produce similar results for residual velocity.

The purpose of this study was to carry out the analysis of impact resistance for aluminum hybrid laminates and polymer matrix composites reinforced with glass and carbon fibers. Damage modes and damages process under varied impact energies are also presented and discussed.

The subject of examination were fiber metal laminates – FMLs (Al/CFRP and Al/GFRP). The samples were subjected to low-velocity impact by using a drop-weight impact tester. The specimens after impact were examined using non-destructive and destructive inspection techniques.

The hybrid laminates are characterized by higher resistance to impact in comparison to the conventional laminates. The delaminations between composite layers as well as the delaminations on metal/composite interface and lateral cracks are the prevailing type of destruction mechanisms. No significant relationships between metal volume friction coefficient vs response to the impact were recorded for the hybrid laminates under tests.

The understanding of impact behavior of FMLs is particularly important for selecting these materials and their designing, in damage tolerance philosophy aspect in aerospace industry as well as in searching the methods of predicting of FML hybrid materials resistance to impact. The test results might be useful for the validation of simulations using numerical methods.

The paper presents the impact resistance of new hybrid laminates for aerospace applications. The identification of damage character and failure mechanisms as well as the relationships between damage and impact responses of aluminum/carbon and aluminum/glass hybrid laminates were estimated.

Details the development of composites, in particular carbon fibre reinforced plastics, for use in aerospace structures. Describes a wide range of products manufactured by various companies. Looks at the integrity of these materials and the testing methods used to ensure this. In particular, discusses metal matrix composites, aluminium/silicon carbide particulate MMCs and fibre‐metal laminates. Finally looks at advanced composites’ promise of being able to meet the needs of high specific properties and enhanced temperature capability required for future engines.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ballistic impact response of square clamped fiber-metal laminates and monolithic plates consisting of different metal alloys using the ANSYS LS-DYNA explicit nonlinear analysis software. The panels are subjected to central normal high velocity ballistic impact by a cylindrical projectile.

Using validated finite element models, the influence of the constituent metal alloy on the ballistic resistance of the fiber-metal laminates and the monolithic plates is studied. Six steel alloys are examined, namely, 304 stainless steel, 1010, 1080, 4340, A36 steel and DP 590 dual phase steel. A comparison with the response of GLAss REinforced plates is also implemented.

It is found that the ballistic limits of the panels can be substantially affected by the constituent alloy. The stainless steel based panels offer the highest ballistic resistance followed by the A36 steel based panels which in turn have higher ballistic resistance than the 2024-T3 aluminum based panels. The A36 steel based panels have higher ballistic limit than the 1010 steel based panels which in turn have higher ballistic limit than the 1080 steel based panels. The behavior of characteristic impact variables such as the impact load, the absorbed impact energy and the projectile’s displacement during the ballistic impact phenomenon is analyzed.

The ballistic resistance of the aforementioned steel fiber-metal laminates has not been studied previously. This study contributes to the scientific knowledge concerning the impact response of steel-based fiber-metal laminates and to the construction of impact resistant structures.

The purpose of this paper is to study the deterministic elastic buckling behavior of cylindrical fiber–metal laminate panels subjected to uniaxial compressive loading and the investigation of GLAss fiber-REinforced aluminum laminate (GLARE) panels using probabilistic finite element method (FEM) analysis.

The FEM in combination with the eigenvalue buckling analysis is used for the construction of buckling coefficient–curvature parameter diagrams of seven fiber–metal laminate grades, three glass-fiber composites and monolithic 2024-T3 aluminum. The influences of uncertainties concerning material properties and laminate dimensions on the buckling load are studied with sensitivity analyses.

It is found that aluminum has a stronger impact on the buckling behavior of the fiber–metal laminate panels than their constituent uni-directional or woven composites. For the classical simply supported boundary conditions, it is found that there is an approximately linear relation between the buckling coefficient and the curvature parameter when the diagrams are plotted in double logarithmic scale. The probabilistic calculations demonstrate that there is a considerable probability to overestimate the buckling load of GLARE panels with deterministic calculations.

In this study, the deterministic and probabilistic buckling response of fiber metal laminate panels is investigated. It is shown that realistic structural uncertainties could substantially affect the buckling strength of aerospace components.

The purpose of this paper is to present microstructural and fractographic analysis of damage in aluminum (2024T3)/carbon-fiber reinforced laminates (AlC) after static tensile test. The influence of fiber orientation on the failure was studied and discussed.

The subject of examination was AlC. The fiber–metal laminates (FMLs) were manufactured by stacking alternating layers of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy (0.3 mm per sheets) and carbon/epoxy composites made of unidirectional prepreg tape HexPly system (Hexcel, USA) in [0], [± 45] and [0/90]S configuration. The fractographic analysis was carried out after static tensile test on the damage area of the specimens. The mechanical tests have been performed in accordance to ASTM D3039. The microstructural and fractographic analysis of FMLs were studied using optical (Nikon SMZ1500, Japan) and scanning electron microscope (Zeiss Ultra Plus, Germany).

FMLs based on aluminum and carbon/epoxy composite are characterized by high tensile properties depending on their individual components and the orientation of the reinforcing fibers, failure of hybrid laminates indicates the complexity process of degradation of these materials. The nature of damage in FML layers is similar to that typical in polymer composites with interlaminar delaminations, transverse cracks of the composite layers, degradation of fiber/matrix interface, damage process in FMLs is also associated mainly with interface between metal and fiber reinforced composite. The mixed damage – cohesive and adhesive – was observed.

One of the most important aspect in the designing and manufacturing process in the service life of composite structures is damage mechanisms. The damage processes in composite materials, particularly in FMLs, are more complex in comparison to metal materials and fiber reinforced polymers.