A study of the mechanical properties of steel/aluminium/GRP laminates

One of the new and advanced composite materials, known as fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) consisting of bonded thin metal sheets and fiber/adhesive layers, is rapidly becoming a good substitute for metal structures, especially in aerospace and aircraft applications. This is because of its good mechanical properties such as excellent fatigue and impact resistance as well as damage tolerance, without sacrificing low weight. In this article, standard FML samples prepared from various lay ups of glass fiber/epoxy laminates with steel and/or aluminum sheets were tested and their mechanical characteristics compared with each other and with monolithic metals or fiber composite laminates in order to study the feasibility of their replacement in aerospace industry.