Analysis of Smart Aramid Fiber Reinforced Laminar Thermoplastic Composite Material Under Static Loading

 

Irena Živković,

Katarina Maksimović,

Aleksandar Kojović,

Radoslav Aleksić

 

In order to obtain a composite material with desired improved resistance to penetration of ballistic projectiles, a poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) reinforced laminar thermoplastic composite material has been made. This paper describes the procedure of manufacturing such a composite material, as well as the procedure of embedding fiber-optic sensors (FOS) in it, using the hot-melt method. Optical fibers were embedded in specimens of composite materials as intensity-based real-time damage detection sensors. Manufactured composite specimens with embedded FOS were subjected to static loading indentation. The initiation of damage and fracture during testing was detected by observation of the characteristic changing of the optical signal. The results of the experiments confirmed that optical fibers might be applied as intensity sensors in real-time monitoring of structural changes in thermoplastic laminate composite materials. The finite element method (FEM) modeling was used to analyze stress and displacement distributions through the layered composite plate, caused by indentation, and to simulate the contact problem - projectile/composite plate. The finite element simulation results of the considered layered composite plate have shown very good agreement with the experimental results.

Key words: composite materials, thermoplastic materials, laminar materials, smart materials, ballistic protection, optical fiber, stress analysis, FEM.