Low velocity impact and axial loading response of hybrid fibre aluminium laminates

Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are layered materials based on stacking arrangements of metals and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composite laminates. These hybrid fibre metal laminates combine the advantages of both metallic materials and the reinforced hard and strong fibrous materials. A series of low velocity impact and tensile tests were carried out on the fabricated hybrid fibre metal laminates with different orientations and stacking sequences. Aluminium metal, carbon and glass fibres were the layers used for fabricating the hybrid composites and the fabrication was done by varying the position and orientation of the laminates and as well as the stacking sequences. The effect of the different stacking sequence of the metal laminates and the fibre layers on the impact and tensile strengths of the hybrid composites are studied. The stress-strain curve analyses were carried out for tensile properties, while the force-time and energy-time curves were analysed for impact charcteristics of the developed composites.