Impact performance of advanced composite structures at arctic condition

The impact performances of stitched composite laminates and composite sandwich structures at various temperature conditions (-70℃~150℃, especially the arctic condition) are experimentally investigated. Specimens impacted at extreme low temperature (-70°C) exhibit less strength, and higher susceptibility to damage, resulting in severe penetration by the impactor. X-ray micro-computed tomography technique is employed to reveal multiple complex impact damage modes. Specifically, results from this work elucidate arctic temperature influence on detrimental failure mechanisms: large facesheet-core debonding, extensive composite face-sheet delamination, significant core shearing and crushing, and severe face-sheet fiber fracture.

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Read the full article(s):

1. M. Elamin, B. Li* and K.T. Tan*. Impact Damage of Composite Sandwich Structures in Arctic Condition, Composite Structures 192 (2018): 422-433.

2. M.H. Khan, M. Elamin, B. Li* and K.T. Tan* (2018). X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography Analysis of Impact Damage Morphology in Composite Sandwich Structures due to Cold Temperature Arctic Condition, Journal of Composite Materials, Online publication.

3. M. Elamin, B. Li and K.T. Tan (2018). Impact Performance of Stitched and Unstitched Composites in Extreme Low Temperature Arctic Conditions, Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials, Online publication.