Experimental investigation on impact performances of GLARE laminates

An experimental investigation was carried out on the damage resistance to a concentrated quasi-static indentation force and low-velocity impact of four kinds of glass-reinforced aluminum laminates (GLARE for short). Compared with the experimental results of the CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) laminates, the performance of GLARE was determined. By means of concentrated quasi-static indentation force test, typical force–displacement response, the maximum contact force and dent depth were received. Through drop-weight low-velocity impact tests, impact force histories, indentation depths (through a new method) and dissipated energy were obtained. The test results show that the force–displacement response of GLARE 4 laminates under the concentrated quasi-static indentation force has an obvious flat roof and the failure is instantaneous, which are different from CFRP laminates. The indention will be visible once the impact happens. C-scan results find that there is no delamination besides the impact area after both the concentrated quasi-static indentation and low-velocity impact. The dissipated energy approximately equals the impact energy.