TITLE:
Dynamic Flexural Modulus and Low-Velocity Impact Response of SupercompositeTM Laminates with Vertical Z-Axis Milled Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
AUTHORS:
Suman Babu Ukyam, Raju P. Mantena, Damian L. Stoddard, Arunachalam M. Rajendran, Robert D. Moser
KEYWORDS:
SupercompositeTM, Damping Ratio, Dynamic Flexural Modulus, Milled Carbon Fibers, Low-Velocity Punch-Shear
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
21,
2021
ABSTRACT: In work
reported here, the dynamic properties and low-velocity impact response of woven
carbon/epoxy laminates incorporating a novel 3D interlaminar reinforcement
concept with dense layers of Z-axis oriented milled carbon fiber SupercompositeTM prepregs, are presented. Impulse-frequency response vibration technique is used
for non-destructive evaluation of the dynamic flexural modulus (stiffness) and
loss factor (intrinsic damping) of woven carbon/epoxy control and SupercompositeTM laminates. Low-velocity punch-shear tests were performed on control and SupercompositeTM laminates according to ASTM D3763 Standard using a drop-weight impact test
system. Control panels had all layers of 3K plain woven carbon/epoxy prepregs,
with a dense interlaminar reinforcement of milled carbon fibers in Z- direction used in designing
the SupercompositeTM laminate—both having same areal
density. Impulse-frequency response vibration experiments show that with a 50%
replacement of woven carbon fabric in control panel with milled carbon fibers
in Z direction dynamic flexural modulus reduced 25% - 30% (loss
in stiffness) and damping increased by about the same 25% - 30%. Low-velocity punch-shear tests demonstrated
about 25%
reduction in energy absorption for SupercompositeTM laminates with the replacement of 50% woven carbon fabric in control panel.