Title

Response of curved carbon composite panels to shock loading

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Date of Original Version

1-1-2013

Abstract

Dynamic experiments were conducted using a shock tube facility coupled with high speed digital image correlation system to understand the effect of plate curvature on blast response of 32 layered carbon fiber-epoxy panels. Three different geometries of carbon fiber panels were evaluated. These panels had a radii of curvatures of infinity (panel A), 304.8 mm (panel B), and 111.76 mm (panel C). Panels with dimensions of 203.2 mm x 203.2 mm x 2 mm were held with clamped boundary conditions during the shock loading. The input and reflected pressure profiles from the shock loading were carefully analyzed to obtain the impulse and energy during the loading process. As a result of shock loading, Panel A had a mid-point deflection of 14 mm before failure initiated, whereas it was 18 mm for the panel B and 10 mm in panel C. Macroscopic postmortem analysis was also performed to comprehend and compare the different mechanisms of failure observed in the three panels, which showed types of failure mechanism in all the three panels: fiber breakage and inter-layer delamination. The fiber breakage was induced on the face exposed to shock loading and continued inside. The delamination was visible on the side of the specimen as well as on the face exposed to the shock loading. The study showed that panel C can mitigate the highest intensity (pressure) shock waves without the initiation of catastrophic damage in the panel. In regards to the other two panels investigated, panel B could sustain the least shock wave intensity before failure. Panel A could mitigate the blast pressure having intensity in between the intensities impinging on the other two panels. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2013.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series

Volume

1

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