Mechanical characterization of fiber metal laminate based on aramid fiber reinforced polypropylene

In this paper, the tensile properties of fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) made of a low-ductility aluminum alloy and aramid fabric/polypropylene matrix composite are evaluated. The tensile testing results show that the FMLs exhibit a more ductile behavior than that of their constituents, indicated by the increased strain to failure. The excellent adhesion between FML constituents, as confirmed by single lap joint shear test and optical microscopy, enabled a more globalized plastic deformation in the aluminum sheet of the FML leading to an increase of strain to failure, which offers an advantage in engineering structural applications where large deformations are present and strain to failure is more important than strength. The findings in this study are important from a design viewpoint of FMLs because the results show that FMLs properties, such as toughness and strain to failure, can potentially be tailored to absorb energy at different rates.