Drop-weight impact behaviour of woven hybrid basalt-carbon/epoxy composites

This study addresses the effects of basalt fibre hybridization on quasi-static mechanical properties and low velocity impact behaviour of carbon/epoxy laminates. Interply hybrid specimens with two different stacking sequences (sandwich-like and intercalated) are tested at three different energies, namely 5, 12.5 and 25 J. Residual post-impact properties of the different configurations of carbon/basalt hybrid laminates are characterized by quasi static four point bending tests. Post-impact flexural tests and interlaminar shear tests are used for the mechanical characterization along with two non-destructive methods, namely acoustic emission and ultrasonic phased array, in order to get further information on both the extent of damage and failure mechanisms. Results indicate that hybrid laminates with intercalated configuration (alternating sequence of basalt and carbon fabrics) have better impact energy absorption capability and enhanced damage tolerance with respect to the all-carbon laminates, while hybrid laminates with sandwich-like configuration (seven carbon fabric layers at the centre of the laminate as core and three basalt fabric layers for each side of the composite as skins) present the most favourable flexural behaviour. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.