Dynamic response of fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) subjected to low-velocity impact

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) are high-performance hybrid structures based on alternating stacked arrangements of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) plies and metal alloy layers. The response of FMLs subjected to low-velocity impact is studied in this paper. The aluminum (Al) sheets are placed instead of some of layers of FRP plies. The effect of the Al layers on contact force history, deflection, in-plane strains and stresses of the structure is studied. The first-order shear deformation theory as well as the Fourier series method is used to solve the governing equations of the composite plate analytically. The interaction between the impactor and the plate is modeled with the use of a two degrees-of-freedom system, consisting of springs-masses. The Choi's linearized Hertzian contact model is used in the impact analysis of the hybrid composite plate. The results indicated that some of the parameters like the layer sequence, mass and velocity of the impactor in a constant impact energy level, and the aspect ratio (a/b) of the plate are important factors affecting the dynamic response of the FMLs. Interaction among the mentioned geometrical parameters and material parameters like the aluminum 2024-T3 alloy layers is studied. The numerical results that are presented in this paper hitherto not reported in the published literature. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.