High-Velocity Impact Behavior of 3D Fiber Metal Laminates Incorporating Nano-Reinforced Syntactic Foam
Subject Areas : Compositesreza hajizadehasl 1 , Mehdi Yarmohammad Tooski 2 * , mohsen jabbari 3 , Laleh Maleknia 4
1 - mech.eng.dept.south tehran branch,islamic azad university, tehran,iran
2 - South Tehran branch, Islamic azad University
3 - South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Biomedical Enginiring, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs), High-Velocity Impact, Nanoclay Reinforcement, Syntactic Foam Core, Ballistic Performance,
Abstract :
This research conducts an experimental assessment of the high-velocity impact response of three-dimensional fiber metal laminates (3D FMLs) integrated with a nano-reinforced syntactic foam core. Laminates with different nanoclay loadings (0, 3, 5, and 7 wt.%) were fabricated in both reinforced and unreinforced forms and subjected to ballistic testing. Impact experiments were carried out using a light gas gun system that launched 9 mm steel projectiles at a velocity of 235 m/s, enabling determination of the ballistic limit velocities. The dynamic behavior and failure mechanisms of the laminates were examined through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to quantify the role of nanoparticle reinforcement on their impact resistance. The findings revealed that the addition of 5 wt.% nanoclay yielded an 18.84% reduction in residual projectile velocity and a 14.97% improvement in absorbed impact energy compared with unreinforced 3D FMLs. Morphological and macroscopic inspections demonstrated that nanoclay enhanced fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion, suppressed matrix microcracking, and mitigated interlaminar delamination. These effects were attributed to the reinforcing action of nanoclay within the polymeric phase. Conversely, nanoclay incorporation was observed to reduce adhesion at the aluminum–composite interface, which promoted more severe plastic deformation of the aluminum sheets during impact. Additionally, microstructural analysis confirmed that nanoclay particles facilitated fiber fibrillation, thereby enhancing the energy dissipation capacity of the laminate under high-velocity impact conditions.
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