Impact Damage Tolerance of Composites Exposed to Hot, Cold and Wet Environments.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the failure threshold (with respect to energy level of impact) of Torlon-C/graphite/glass and APC-2 composite materials, with the samples being conditioned and tested at predetermined hygrothermal environments. A test matrix involving ply-orientations, temperature (-60 deg F, 75 deg F, 180 deg F and 280 deg F) and humidities (15%, 50% and 100% RH) was created. For each test condition of the matrix, the failure threshold was developed by subjecting compression coupons to impact damage at various energy levels with a 12.7 mm (0.5 ) diameter aluminum projectile. The forward velocities used in the tests ranged from 27.4 to 152.4 m/s (90 to 500 ft/s). The behavior of composite materials under the combined effects of impact, humidity and temperature has been a topic of concern among investigators. Much of the research currently available has focused upon the effect of a single factor (e.g. impact), or the effect of humidity and temperature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of all these factors on the degradation of laminates.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA236869

Entities

People

  • V. S. Avva

Organizations

  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Damage
  • Damage Tolerance
  • Energy Levels
  • Environment
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Humidity
  • Laminates
  • Materials

Readers

  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.