Low-velocity repeated impact behaviors of Polymer Fiber Reinforced Plastics (PFRPs)

Conference · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.12783/asc38/36684· OSTI ID:2217089

Ko, Seunghyun ^[1]; Qiao, Yao ^[1]; Roosendaal, Timothy J. ^[1]; Denny, Adam C. ^[1]; Ramos, Jose L. ^[1]; Kuang, Wenbin ^[1]; Shahwan, Khaled W. ^[1]; Simmons, Kevin L. ^[1]

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1. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)

Modern fiber-reinforced composites have become ubiquitous across multiple industries due to their excellent weight-to-strength ratio. Typically glass or carbon fibers are widely used. While Glass or Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (GFPRs or CFPRs) have good stiffness, strength, and fatigue life, they are expensive and difficult to recycle. Researchers are exploring Polymer Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (PFRPs) as an alternative solution. PFRPs utilize polymer fibers and a polymer matrix. A wide range of materials options is available, including low-cost thermoplastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene. These thermoplastics are easy to handle and recyclable without special methods. Manufacturing parts using thermoplastics are well-established as well. However, their mechanical performances have not been extensively studied compared to GFRPs or CFRPs. This study examines the low-velocity impact resistance of PFRPs made of different thermoplastics. The low-velocity impacts are applied through a drop-weight tower. The experiment is divided into two cases: a single perforation impact and low-energy repeated impacts. Energy absorption and the number of impacts to failure are measured. The results are compared to traditional CFRPs which have a thermoset matrix. The PFRPs demonstrate energy absorption capabilities comparable to or greater than those of CFRPs with respect to specimen thickness and density. Additionally, the PFRPs show significantly higher impacts-to-failure than the CFRPs in low-energy repeated impact tests. This is particularly noteworthy considering that the PFRPs are much simpler and more economical to manufacture than CFRPs. To further

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2217089
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-186407
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English