Effects of Ply Orientations and Stacking Sequences on Impact Response of Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF)/Carbon Hybrid Laminate Composites

This study investigated the impact response behaviours of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/carbon hybrid laminate composites for different ply orientations and stacking sequences. The laminates were manufactured using a vacuum infusion approach with various stacking sequences and ply orientations classified as symmetric quasi-isotropic, angle-ply symmetric, and cross-ply symmetric. The laminates were analysed using an IMATEK IM10 drop weight impact tester with an increment of 5 J until the samples were perforated. This investigation reveals that the overall impact properties of PALF and carbon as reinforcements were improved by a beneficial hybridised effect. The laminates with an exterior carbon layer can withstand high impact energy levels up to 27.5 J. The laminate with different stacking sequences had a lower energy transfer rate and ruptured at higher impact energy. The laminates with ply orientations of [0 degrees/90 degrees] and [+/- 45 degrees](8) exhibited 10% to 30% better energy absorption than those with ply orientations of [+/- 45 degrees(2), 0 degrees/90 degrees(2)](s) and [0 degrees/90 degrees(2), +/- 45 degrees(2)](s) due to energy being readily transferred within the same linear ply orientation. Through visual inspection, delamination was observed to occur at the interfaces of different stacking sequences and ply orientations.