High temperature effect on quasi-static and low velocity impact behaviors of advanced composite materials

In this study, the effect of ambient temperatures on the punch shear and low-velocity impact behavior of S2 glass fabric and carbon-kevlar hybrid fabric reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. The quasi-static tests (QST) were performed by using a Universal Shimadzu Tensile Testing Machine with various crosshead speeds. Low-velocity impact (LVI) tests were also carried out by using the CEAST Fractovis Plus impact test machine at different impact energies. Flat-nose impactors with a cylindrical punch diameter of 12.70 mm were mounted to the test machines. Both tests have been carried out at various temperatures. After the experiments, the load-displacement, the absorbed energy-impact energy/crosshead speed and punch shear strength graphs are plotted. From the obtained results it can be said that, in penetration cases of low-velocity impact and quasi-static tests, absorbed energy and punch shear strength values show similar behavior for hybrid carbon-kevlar/epoxy at each temperature except for 80 °C while these values are different from each other for S2 glass/epoxy at all temperatures.