International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152

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International Journal of Impact Engineering

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Note on the impact behaviour of fibre-metal laminates

TagedPD1X XNorman JonesD2X X
TagedPImpact Research Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United Kingdom

TAGEDPA R T I C L E I N F O TAGEDPA B S T R A C T

Article History: Theoretical predictions are developed for the deformation and denting of fibre-metal laminates when
Received 12 January 2017 subjected to low-velocity impact loads, or uniform blast loadings, and compared with available exper-
Revised 31 March 2017 imental test results. The rigid plastic material approximation with modifications to reflect the actual
Accepted 4 April 2017
cross-section of a fibre-metal laminate is used to produce simple formulae. Generally speaking, these
Available online 5 April 2017
expressions produce theoretical predictions which give reasonable agreement with the corresponding
experimental data. These formulae would be useful for preliminary design calculations and rapid cal-
TagedPKeywords:
culations for forensic purposes. A wide range of rigid plastic theoretical solutions for plates having
Fibre-metal laminate
Circular, square and rectangular plates
different shapes, boundary conditions and impact, dynamic and blast loadings have been studied in
Impact and blast loads the literature and these equations could be used for fibre-metal laminates with the appropriate modi-
Theoretical fications discussed in this paper.
Comparison with experiments © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction 2. Theoretical predictions for plating

TagedPDesigners have shown considerable interest in the structural TagedPThe rigid, perfectly plastic behaviour of structural members sub-
behaviour of fibre-metal laminates because of their advanta- jected to dynamic loadings has been explored by many authors, as
geous characteristics, such as their favourable strength to weight discussed in [7]. Theoretical expressions for the maximum perma-
ratio, good fatigue behaviour and encouraging impact perfor- nent transverse displacements (Wf) of circular, square and rectangu-
mance, and as a consequence, they have been used in aircraft lar plates when subjected to mass impacts, dynamic pressure pulses,
fuselages and in various other engineering applications. Many or blast loadings are gathered together in the Appendix of Reference
authors have explored the elastic behaviour under static and [8]. These theoretical predictions cater for the influence of membrane
impact loadings, as well as the fatigue and fracture properties forces which are associated with finite transverse displacements of
and several other characteristics which are required for design the plating. In particular, the maximum permanent transverse dis-
purposes. This note focuses principally on the dynamic resis- placement of a rectangular plate with thickness H, dimensions 2B X
tance due to low-velocity impact loadings causing an inelastic 2 L (2B < 2 L) and having an aspect ratio b = B/L struck at the centre
response and denting in a fibre-metal laminate. This damage by a mass G having an initial kinetic energy K ¼ GV02 =2 is [9]
could be caused by runway debris or objects dropped onto air- 28 91=2 3
craft wings, for example, and the general situation has been Wf ð1 þ mÞ 6< 6bVg ð1 þ 6g Þ =
7
¼ 4 1 þ

15; ð1Þ
examined in References [1
6]. H 2 : 1 þ b ð1 þ mÞ2 ð1 þ 3g Þ2 ;
2

TagedPIt is the object of this note to demonstrate how the rigid plas-
tic analyses, which have been developed for plating [e.g.,7,8], can
be used with appropriate changes to predict the permanent dis-
placements of fibre-metal laminates under large dynamic trans-
verse loadings. It is not the intention to discuss the detailed
internal fracture behaviour, delamination and the complex fail-
ure mechanisms which might develop in fibre-metal laminates
when subjected to sufficiently large dynamic loadings, but to
focus on the overall response.
where mM0 is the bending resistance around a rectangular plate sup-
porting boundary with 0
m
1, where the extreme values m = 0
and m = 1 correspond to simply supported and fully clamped sup-
ports, respectively. The parameter g is the mass ratio, which, for this
case, is defined as
g ¼ G=4rHBL ð2Þ
and the dimensionless initial kinetic energy of the striking mass is
given by

V ¼ K=s 0 H3 ; ð3Þ

E-mail address: norman.jones@liverpool.ac.uk where s 0 is the flow stress of the material.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2017.04.004
0734-743X/© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
148 N. Jones / International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152

Notation
TagedPThe metal volume fraction (MVF) is therefore given by
MVF ¼ nhm =H ð8Þ
m bending factor at plate boundaries, 0
m
1
which can be used to obtain a flow stress for the laminate as
hc thickness of composite layer
hm thickness of metal layer s o ¼ MVFs m þ ð1
MVFÞs c ð9aÞ
n number of metal layers
and the density for a fibre-metal laminate as
B one half width of a rectangular plate
G striking mass r ¼ MVFrm þ ð1
MVFÞrc : ð9bÞ
H plate thickness
K initial kinetic energy Eqs. (7) to (9b) can be substituted into Eqs. (1) to (6b) to obtain the
L one half length of a rectangular plate maximum permanent transverse displacement for a fibre-metal
R radius of boundary of a circular plate laminate struck at the centre by a mass G travelling at an initial
Mo rigid plastic collapse moment of a plate cross-section velocity Vo.
Vo initial impact velocity TagedPAlthough the practical applications of fibre-metal laminates often
Wf maximum permanent transverse displacement use rectangular shapes, experimental tests to obtain the characteris-
b B/L tics are often conducted on fibre-metal laminates having circular
g mass ratio, Eqs. (2) and (11) shapes with a radius R and struck at the centre with a mass G travel-
λ dimensionless impulse, Eq. (14b) ling with an initial impact velocity Vo. In this case, when retaining
r density geometry changes, or finite displacements, a rigid plastic analysis
rc density of composite layer [7,9] predicts the maximum permanent transverse displacement
rm density of metal layer (Wf)
2( )1=2 3
so flow stress
Wf ð1 þ mÞ 4 12gVð1 þ 6g Þ
V dimensionless initial kinetic energy, Eq. (3) ¼ 1 þ
15; ð10Þ
H 2 pð1 þ 3g Þ2 ð1 þ mÞ2
where
TagedPFor large impact masses, G, having g  1, Eq. (1) predicts
n
o1=2 g ¼ G=rHpR2 ð11Þ
Wf =H ¼ 1 þ bV= 1 þ b
2

1 ð4Þ is the mass ratio and the dimensionless initial kinetic energy V is
and defined by Eq. (3) and where mM0 is the bending resistance around
n
o1=2  the plate boundary with 0
m
1. Thus, Eq. (10) with g  1
1 þ 4bV= 1 þ b
2 becomes
Wf =H ¼
1 =2 ð5Þ
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
when m = 1 and m = 0 for the fully clamped and simply supported Wf =H ¼ 1 þ 2V=p
1 ð12Þ
cases, respectively. Eqs. (4) and (5) give and
 1=2 n 1=2 o
Wf =H ¼ 1 þ V=2
1 ð6aÞ Wf =H ¼ 1 þ 8V=p
1 =2 ð13Þ
and
n o for the fully clamped (m = 1) and simply supported (m = 0) cases,
1=2
Wf =H ¼ 1 þ 2V
1 =2 ð6bÞ respectively.
TagedPAgain, these equations could be used to predict the behaviour
for fully clamped and simply supported square plates (b = 1), of fibre-metal laminates having a circular shape when employing
respectively. Eqs. (7) to (9b), as noted previously for rectangular and square
TagedPEqs. (1) and (4
6b) are compared with experimental data in [7,9]. shapes.
TagedPIt is suggested in this note that Eqs. (1) to (6) can be used for TagedPThe approach outlined above can be used for circular, square or
fibre-metal laminates when H is the total thickness of a laminate, rectangular shaped fibre-metal laminates subjected to impact,
but s 0 is now a weighted value which recognises the different flow dynamic pressure pulse or blast loadings. The corresponding rigid
stresses and different thicknesses of the constituent components. plastic solutions are listed in the Appendix of [8]. For example,
Thus, as an illustration, the idealised section of a fibre-metal lami- equation (A.24a) of [8] can be used to predict the maximum per-
nate in Fig. 1 has n metal layers each having a uniform thickness hm manent transverse displacements for a fully clamped square plate,
and a flow stress s m separated by n-1 layers of composite material or
each having a thickness hc and flow stress s c , so that qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Wf =H ¼ 1 þ 2λ=3
1; ð14aÞ
H ¼ nhm þ ðn
1Þhc ð7Þ

λ ¼ rVo2 L2 =s o H2 ð14bÞ
when subjected to a uniformly distributed blast loading (impulsive
velocity, Vo).

3. Comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental

results on fibre-metal laminates struck by impact loads

TagedPStarikov [4] has reported on a series of low-velocity impact tests

on several types of fibre-metal laminates (glass laminate aluminium
reinforced epoxy, which is known by the acronym GLARE). In partic-
ular, the dent depths (Wf in the previous section) were recorded for
Fig. 1. Fibre-metal laminate, 3/2 design.
a range of impact energies, K. Aluminium alloy 2024-T3 thin sheets
 N. Jones / International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152 149

Fig. 2. Wf versus K for fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates made from GLARE
and struck with a mass at the centre.
Experimental results [4]: , r, o, D and & for GLARE 2B-3/2-0.3, 4A-3/2-0.5, 4A-4/
3-0.5, 4B-5/4-0.4 and 4A-5/4-0.5, respectively.
————1-5: theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) with (7) to (9a) corresponding
to experimental tests.
Fig. 3. Wf versus K for fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates made from GLARE
and struck with a mass at the centre.
Experimental results [10]; o, r, and & for GLARE 3-2/1-0.3, 4-2/1-0.3 and 5-2/
1-0.3, respectively.
TagedPand glass fibre reinforced plastic prepreg FM94 were used for the ————1
3: theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) with (7) to (9a) corresponding
to experimental tests.
standard GLARE laminates.
- - - - -1
3: as ———— but with 2 K/3 to account for elastic energy.
TagedPThe experimental data presented in Figure 14(a) of Starikov
[4] for five different designations of GLARE fibre-metal laminates
are plotted in Fig. 2, and are compared with the theoretical pre-
dictions of Eq. (12) for a fully clamped circular plate struck by a TagedPshould be used in Eq. (12) for the rigid plastic predictions of the per-
mass at the centre when modified using Eqs. (7) and (9a). The manent transverse displacements. These theoretical predictions are
values for H, MVF and s o are taken from Table 2 of [4]. In the indicated by the dashed curves in Fig. 3 which are now closer to the
designation GLARE 4A-3/2-0.5, for example, 4A means 0°/90°/0° associated experimental data.
composite prepreg build-up sequence between two aluminium TagedPThe experimental results from Fig. 3 are re-plotted in Fig. 4 using
sheets, where the angles refer to the rolling directions, 3/2 signi- the dimensionless variables Wf/H and V, as suggested by the form of
fies the number of aluminium layers/composite lay-ups and 0.5 Eq. (12). This figure reveals more clearly that the experimental data
means the aluminium sheet thickness (mm). Further information clusters about Eq. (12) when one-third of the initial impact energy is
on the designations for GLARE fibre-metal laminates can be taken to cause elastic effects.
found in [1].
TagedPIt is evident that the theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) provide
good agreement with the experimental data reported in Fig. 2. In
fact, if these results were plotted in the dimensionless space sug-
gested by Eq. (12), i.e., Wf/H versus V, then the theoretical predic-
tions would collapse onto a single curve with some minor scatter of
the experimental data about that curve.
TagedPLaliberte, Poon and Straznicky [10] have reported some low-
velocity (2.2
4.5 m/s) drop weight test results on clamped circular
GLARE 3, 4 and 5 fibre-metal laminates. The experimental results are
reported in Fig. 3 when estimating the mass per unit areas of 2.07,
2.30 and 2.54 kg/m2 for GLARE 3, 4 and 5, respectively. These values
were not given in Reference [10], but were required to uncouple Wf
from the data presented in [10]. Also shown in Fig. 3 are the corre-
sponding rigid-plastic theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) when modi-
fied using Eqs. (7) to (9a), as noted previously. It is evident that
the theoretical predictions over-predict the experimental values of
Wf for all of the corresponding fibre-metal laminates, unlike the
comparisons made in Fig. 2 for the data from [4].
TagedPThe fibre-metal laminates in Fig. 2 have radius/thickness ratios
(R/H) of 9.4 to 28.6, while those in Fig. 3 have the much larger values
91.4 < R/H < 119. Clearly, the fibre-metal laminates in Reference
[10] and Fig. 3 are relatively thin and elastic effects would be
expected to be significant. In fact, the results in Fig. 6 of [10] reveal
that a significant amount of the initial impact energy is absorbed
Fig. 4. Experimental results [10] and theoretical predictions (Eq. (12)) from Fig. 3
elastically. Thus, it is seen from these results that about 1/3 of plotted with dimensionless variables.
the initial impact energy is absorbed elastically, so that only 2 K/3
150 N. Jones / International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152
Fig. 5. Wf versus K for fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates made from GLARE
and struck by a mass at the centre.
Experimental results [11]: , & and D for GLARE 4A-3/2-0.4, 4A-4/3-0.4, 4A-5/
4-0.4, respectively.
———— theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) with (7) to (9a) corresponding to
experimental results.
The vertical dashed and solid lines on the curves denote the first crack (FC) and
through-thickness transition (TTT) energies, respectively.
TagedPSome more low-velocity experimental results obtained by
Starikov [11] are presented in Fig. 5 for clamped circular shaped
fibre-metal laminates (3 types of GLARE 4A specimens) struck by
a mass at the centre. It is evident that the theoretical predictions
of Eq. (12) modified with Eqs. (7) to (9a) provide good agreement
with the corresponding experimental results. The three types of
GLARE 4A fibre-metal laminates have a radius of 50 mm and
thicknesses (H) of 1.95, 2.8 and 3.6 mm. Thus, the associated val-
ues of R/H = 13.9 to 25.6 which is a similar range to that for the
specimens in Fig. 2, and it is much smaller than that associated
with the experimental results in Fig. 3. In other words, linear elas-
tic effects are not expected to be important. It is indicated in
Fig. 5 when a first crack appears in a specimen (FC) and the occur-
rence of through-thickness damage at higher impact energies
(TTT). It is evident that the theoretical predictions of Eq. (12)
when modified for fibre-metal laminates remain valid for impact
energies beyond FC and even up to energies when TTT occurs.
TagedPTsartsaris, Meo, Dolce, Polimeno, Guida and Marulo [12] have
reported some low-velocity mass impact tests (3.6
5.5 m/s) on cir-
cular shaped fibre-metal laminates. The test specimens have a 3/2
construction using a glass fibre epoxy composite and an aluminium
alloy 7475-T761, which has much higher yield and ultimate stresses
than those for the experiments reported in Figs. 2
5. The aluminium
alloy sheets are 0.3 mm thick and the laminates have a total thick-
ness of 1.4 mm. They are struck centrally with a 0.76 kg mass giving
rise to a mass ratio of 52.3, which is comfortably within the range
of quasi-static behaviour.
TagedPEq. (12) with Eqs. (7) to (9a) are compared in Fig. 6 with the
experimental data from [12]. Clearly, the experimental results lie
above the theoretical predictions. One possible explanation for this
situation is due to any in-plane slippage at the supports. It is indi-
cated in [12] that the clamping arrangement is contained within the
difference between a 70 mm diameter exposed circular area and
a 80 mm square outer edge of the laminate. Thus, between 5 mm
to 21 mm of material around the plate boundary is available for
achieving a fully clamped support. This appears to be an inadequate
amount of material particularly when considering that bolts are
often employed to achieve fully clamped supports, as shown, for
example, in Fig. 2 of Laliberte et al [10].
Fig. 6. Wf versus impact velocity Vo for fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates
struck by a mass at the centre.
x; experimental results [12].
————; Eq. (12) (circumscribing yield surface),
- - - - - ; Eq. (12) (inscribing yield surface).
TagedPIt should be noted that the theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) are
developed using a yield condition which circumscribes the exact
yield condition [7]. A theoretical solution for an inscribing yield con-
dition is obtained when replacing s 0 by 0.618s 0 in Eq. (12). These
two theoretical predictions provide bounds on the “exact” (see foot-
note on page 302 of [7]) theoretical solution, although for most
plates made from ductile materials, Eq. (12), or its equivalent for the
appropriate loading and boundary conditions, is usually adequate, as
found also for the results for the laminates in Figs. 2
5. Thus, the
theoretical predictions for an inscribing yield condition, which
are given by Eq. (12) with s 0 replaced by 0.618s 0, are presented
in Fig. 6. It is interesting to observe that the two sets of theoretical
predictions bracket the experimental results.
TagedPVlot [1] has presented some experimental data on fully clamped
circular plates struck in the centre by a cylindrical indenter having a
hemispherical impact surface. Of interest here are the test speci-
mens made of GLARE 3 and GLARE 3I and also some monolithic
plates made from aluminium alloy 2024-T3 which were struck by
missiles having velocities up to 10 m/s. It is evident from Fig. 7 that
the theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) for Wf provide reasonable
agreement with the corresponding experimental results on the
monolithic plates. This provides some confidence in the theoretical
Fig. 7. Wf versus K for fully clamped circular plates struck by a mass at the centre.
Experimental results [1]: &; aluminium alloy 2024-T3 monolithic metal plates.
D, ~ GLARE 3 and 3I fibre-metal laminates.
Theoretical predictions: ————; Eq. (12) for monolithic plates.
- - - - -; Eq. (12) (with (7
9a)) for GLARE 3.
` 

; Eq. (12) (with (7
9a)) for GLARE 3I.
 N. Jones / International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152
TagedPprocedure and also in the experimental arrangement used by the
author. Eq. (12) with the modifications according to Eqs. (7)
(9a)
provide reasonable agreement with the experimental values for
dent depths (Wf) on GLARE 3 and the GLARE 3I specimens up to
impact energies of about 20 J. For higher impact energies, the theory
over-predicts the associated experimental results. It is evident that
this situation was not observed in Figs. 2
6 so the reason for this
phenomenon is not clear because the trend of the theory was essen-
tially maintained even when some internal cracking develops, as
indicated in Fig. 5, and particularly in view of the reasonable agree-
ment with the monolithic plates. Vlot [1] reported that the GLARE 3
specimens suffered first cracking at 22.1 Ns and developed a through
crack for 29.6 Ns. The GLARE 3I specimens experienced first cracking
at 35.7 Ns and through cracking at 37.1 Ns. The detailed material
properties are not presented by Vlot [1], but the maximum strain is
about 2% and the strain rate is about 5 sec-1 according to the method
outlined in Section 4 of [8] when the impact velocity is 10 m/s. These
values do not suggest that material strain hardening or material
strain rate effects would contribute significantly to the separation
between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results for
the larger energies in Fig. 7. Santiago and Alves [13] have studied the
strain rate sensitivity of a fibre-metal laminate which was similar to
GLARE 5 with aluminium alloy 2024-T3 metal layers. The experi-
mental results reported in that paper reveal a relatively small effect
for the above values of the strain and strain rate.
TagedPSadighi et al [14] have studied the low-velocity mass impact
loading of fully clamped fibre-metal laminate circular plates. The
behaviour of the two GLARE 5-3/2-0.4 (GL5-1) and GLARE 5-3/2-0.5
(GL5-2) fibre-metal laminate plates having aluminium alloy 2024-T3
sheets were compared with another fibre-metal laminate with mag-
nesium MgAZ31B-H24 sheets (GL5-Mg). The experimental data for
Wf in terms of K in Fig. 9 of [14] are re-plotted in Fig. 8 here in terms
of the dimensionless variables Wf/H and V which appear in Eq. (12).
It is evident that Eq. (12) gives reasonable predictions for the GL5-1
and GL5-2 fibre-metal laminates up to a dimensionless kinetic
energy of V = 20, approximately. The theoretical predictions fall
below the corresponding experimental data for larger values of V
which is due to internal damage leading to larger dimensionless dis-
placements. However, it should be noted that the theoretical predic-
tions of Eq. (12) in Fig. 8 were calculated for fully clamped circular
plates having m = 1. Eq. (13), which is developed for circular plates
with simple supports (m = 0) and struck by a mass, predicts larger
values for Wf/H than Eq. (12). For example, at V = 30, Eqs. (12)
Fig. 8. Wf/H versus V for fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates struck at the
centre. Experimental results [14]: D, & and  for GL5-1, GL5-2 and GL5-Mg.
————; Theoretical predictions of Eq. (12) with (7
9a).
151
TagedPand (13) predict values of 3.5 and 3.9 for Wf/H, respectively. Thus,
the extreme case of no bending resistance (m = 0) at the clamped
boundaries would lead to values of Wf/H being about 11 per cent
larger.
TagedPThe experimental results for the fibre-metal laminate plates with
0.5 mm thick magnesium sheets [14] fall below the theoretical pre-
dictions for fully clamped supports in Fig. 8 for all values of V.
TagedPMany of the experimental studies reported in Figs. 2
8 were
conducted on square or rectangular panels with a central circular
section clamped within circular supports.
TagedPThe experimental results reported by Tooski, Alderliesten, Ghajar
and Khalili [15] were focussed on the effect of repeated low-velocity
impacts on fully clamped GLARE 5-2/1-0.3 rectangular shaped fibre-
metal laminates (H = 1.1 mm). However, the first impact loading pro-
duced a maximum permanent transverse displacement Wf = 3.35
mm, which compares with Wf = 2.38 mm predicted by Eq. (4) with
b = 0.6 and using Eqs. (7)
(9a). Eq. (4) with s 0 replaced by 0.618s 0
predicts Wf = 3.25 mm which is similar to the experimental value. It
is possible that the experimental value for Wf is high because slip-
page might have occurred at the plate boundaries due to the large
in-plane membrane forces induced in the rectangular plate for a
dimensionless displacement of Wf/H = 3. It is noted in Fig. 1(a) of
[15] that a section of plating which is only 12.5 mm wide is around
the plate boundaries and within the clamping arrangement. It is
well known that extremely small in-plane displacements at the sup-
ports of beams and plates which undergo large transverse displace-
ments can have a significant effect on the load carrying capacity
[e.g.,16].
4. Comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental
results on fibre-metal laminates subjected to blast loadings
TagedPLangdon, Chi, Nurick and Haupt [17] have reported some experi-
mental test results on GLARE 3
3/2
0.3 fully clamped square plates
subjected to blast loadings. Eq. (14a) together with the material data
reported in Fig. 5 of Mohamed, Soutis and Hodzic [18] and Eqs. (7) to
(9) predict the dimensionless results presented in Fig. 9 here. It is
evident that there is reasonable agreement with the corresponding
experimental data (o), but the two data points () fall noticeably
Fig. 9. Wf/H versus λ for fully clamped square GLARE 3
3/2
0.3 fibre-metal
laminates subjected to blast loadings.
Experimental results [17]: , 40 mm charge diameter.
, 20 mm charge diameter.
————; Eq. (14) (with (7
9b)) for a fully clamped square plate subjected to a
uniformly distributed impulsive velocity.
152 N. Jones / International Journal of Impact Engineering 108 (2017) 147
152
TagedPbelow the theoretical curve. The explosive charge diameters for
these two later cases are only one half the values for the experimen-
tal results designated (o). It is observed in Fig. 9 of [18] that these
two data points also fall below the numerical calculations using
ABAQUS. This phenomenon is due likely to a uniformly distributed
blast pressure not being achieved in the experimental tests for the
smaller explosive charge diameters.
5. Discussion
TagedPStarikov [4] has suggested an empirical equation for the impact
loading of fibre-metal laminates
Wf ¼ AK B =Hs 0 ð15Þ
where A and B are coefficients which are selected to give the best
power curve fit to the experimental data in [4]. The values of A and B
are listed in Table 3 of [4] for several cases, but no dimensions of the
coefficients are given so that the above equation is not dimension-
ally consistent in the sense that there are different units on both
sides of the equation. Thus, it is valid only for the same range as the
experimental test results and it would not be safe to use for fibre-
metal laminates which lie outside the associated range of parame-
ters. The theoretical method outlined in Section 2 and illustrated in
Sections 3 and 4 does not require any empirical constants so that it
can be used to predict the ductile behaviour of a wide range of fibre-
metal laminate designs. This allows comparisons to be made quickly
and, moreover, avoids the need for extensive testing, as illustrated
in Figs. 4, 8 and 9 where the dimensionless parameters emerge natu-
rally from the analysis and collapse the experimental data about a
single curve. There are over 50 experimental test results spread over
Figure 14(a) of Starikov [4] and Fig. 2 here (the results for one case
were not plotted in Fig. 2 to reduce congestion) which would inhabit
a narrow region about a single curve in the dimensionless space, as
suggested by the associated theoretical analysis (Eq. (12)).
TagedPThe theoretical predictions in Section 2 were developed for a
rigid, perfectly plastic material, while the interior of a fibre-metal
laminate might respond with cracking and other complex failure
mechanisms for sufficiently large dynamic loads. Nevertheless, it is
evident from the comparison made with the particular experimental
data in Fig. 5 that the predictions, when assuming a ductile material,
are “valid” beyond the threshold for first cracking (FC) and even
beyond the threshold for the through-thickness damage (TTT).
TagedPThe potential importance of elastic effects on the response have
been noted in Section 3 for thin plates. Clearly, if an elastic behaviour
dominates the plate response, then it is not appropriate to use a
rigid-plastic procedure and elastic or elastic-plastic methods are
required.
6. Conclusions
TagedPThis note has illustrated how theoretical rigid plastic solutions,
many of which are available in the published literature, can be
used to predict the dynamic behaviour of fibre-metal laminates. A
straightforward modification, to reflect the actual cross-section of a
fibre-metal laminate, reveals that the theoretical predictions for the
ductile damage (denting) due to a low-velocity impact loading pro-
vides reasonable agreement with the results of several experimental
programmes. Most of the experimental studies have been conducted
on fully clamped circular fibre-metal laminates, but comparisons
with an experimental study on rectangular shaped fibre-metal
laminates is discussed, as well as a comparison with the permanent
deformations of square fibre-metal laminates subjected to blast
loadings.
TagedPThe equations obtained from a theoretical analysis can be cast
into dimensionless forms that allow for an efficient planning of
experimental test programmes. This makes it possible to select the
minimum number of tests in order to embrace the full range of inter-
est by avoiding any duplication of test results when plotted in the
dimensionless space. Generally speaking, an empirical equation,
such as Eq. (15), would not avoid this unnecessary duplication.
Moreover, the equations in Section 2 are not restricted to the range
of any particular test results, within reason, since no empirical
parameters are used in their derivation.
TagedPThe rigid plastic method of analysis has been used to study
arbitrarily shaped plates with boundary conditions varying from
simply supported to fully clamped. It can cater for a variety of
dynamic loadings including impact, blast and various pressure-
time histories. The method has also been used for the dynamic
behaviour of shells [19]. It is suggested on the basis of the results
in this note that the modifications introduced in Section 2 could
be used in all of the available theoretical solutions to predict
the corresponding impact and blast behaviour of fibre-metal
laminates.
Aknowledgements
TagedPThe author is grateful to Dr. R. Starikov for some early discussions
on fibre-metal laminates.
References
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