Composite
panels may be subjected to operating temperatures from -55˚C to 76˚C and high
strain rates. The aerospace guidelines for material operating limits are not
directly applicable to ground vehicle applications. In this research, the
influence of temperature and moisture on critical mechanical properties of two
epoxy resins SC-15 and RDL-RDC at quasi-static and high strain rates (using
Hopkinson bar) is investigated.
The role of
thermoplastic interlayer in thick section composites for improving delamination
resistance will be discussed. Model predictions from LsDyna are used to
differentiate the extent of delamination in panels with and without interlayer.
Processability and VARTM layouts of the thick section composites with
interlayers will be discussed using LIMS software simulations.