Ballistic impact behavior of hybrid composites

Experimental studies are presented on ballistic impact behavior of hybrid composites. The materials considered for the studies are four types of symmetric hybrid composites made using plain weave E-glass fabric and 8H satin weave T300 carbon fabric with epoxy resin. Studies are also carried out on plain weave E-glass/epoxy and 8H satin weave T300 carbon/epoxy for comparison. It is observed that ballistic limit velocity, V50 can be increased for the composites by adding E-glass layers to T300 carbon layers compared with only carbon composites for the same laminate thickness. Placing E-glass layers in the exterior and carbon layers in the interior provides higher ballistic limit velocity than placing carbon layers in the exterior and E-glass layers in the interior. Experimental damage patterns during ballistic impact have been obtained for the materials considered.

► Glass–carbon hybrid composite has higher V50 compared with only carbon composite. ► Placing glass layers outside and carbon layers inside provides higher V50. ► For same areal density, carbon composite has higher V50 than glass composite. ► For same areal density, glass composite absorbs more energy than carbon composite.