Low-velocity impact and quasi-static post-impact compression analysis of woven structural composites for automotive: Influence of fibre types and architectural structures

This paper studied the effect of different fibres and their architectures on the low-velocity impact (LVI) and quasistatic compression after impact (CAI) characteristics of textile fibre-based structural composite materials (TFSCM) manufactured using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method. All specimens were tested at three distinct impact energy levels: 20 J, 30 J, and 40 J. Subsequently, optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and 3D X-ray micro-computed tomography (mu -CT) techniques were utilized to examine and analyze the internal and external damage morphologies, failure mechanisms, and damage distribution within the structural composites. The experimental findings revealed that the basalt epoxybased three-dimensional (3D) woven fabric-reinforced composites had superior energy absorption and deformation resistance than the glass and sisal-based unidirectional (UD) and bidirectional (2D) composites across all impact energy levels. Furthermore, mu -CT analysis showed that specimens impacted at 40 J experienced a 128.41 % and 154.36 % increase in damage volume compared to those impacted at 30 J and 20 J, leading to complete perforation damage and z-yarn bending and breakage without any delamination at the impact site. More importantly, composites reinforced with UD preforms impacted at 10 J exhibited higher CAI strength compared to both 2D and 3D composites.