A transparent three-layered laminate composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) and thermoplastic polyurethane subjected to low-velocity impact

Experimental and numerical results of a novel polymeric laminate consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are presented. The laminate was subjected to low-velocity impact loadings using clamped three-point bending and dart impact tests at different temperatures and velocities in order to investigate the highly strain-rate and temperature dependent characteristics of a purely polymeric laminate. An investigation of the adiabatic heating of the highly strained interlayer in the post-breakage phase was performed with high-speed infrared thermography. A significant temperature rise of the interlayer in the impacted area and in the vicinity of cracks of the broken PMMA was observed, which facilitates temperature-based alteration of material properties during the test. Material and Finite Element modelling techniques are proposed and discussed, which are able to represent the mechanical and thermal behaviour of the laminate qualitatively and quantitatively.