Title: Improvement of interlaminar fracture toughness of Al/GFRP laminates

Authors: Huiming Ning; Tsukuru Inoue; Hiroaki Ito; Masahiro Arai; Alamusi; Liangke Wu; Yuan Li; Ning Hu

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shinshu University, 4-17-1, Wakasato, Nagano-shi, Nagano 380-855, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shinshu University, 4-17-1, Wakasato, Nagano-shi, Nagano 380-855, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan ' Department of Nanomechanics, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

Abstract: In this work, manufacturing techniques and mode-I interlaminar mechanical properties of fibre metal laminates (FML) based on aluminium alloy 2017 and glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) were investigated. Various toughening techniques including patterned surface manufacturing and acid etching on Al, and addition of carbon nanofibres between Al and the GFRP were employed to improve the interlaminar fracture toughness of the Al/GFRP laminates. The double cantilever beam (DCB) tests indicated that the combination of these toughening techniques can significantly enhance the mode-I fracture toughness and resistance of the Al/GFRP laminates. Crack propagation path and fractured surface were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to interpret the improvement mechanism of interlaminar mechanical properties.

Keywords: Al/GFRP laminates; vapour grown carbon fibre; VGCF; fracture toughness; interlaminar mechanical properties; aluminium alloys; glass fibre reinforced plastic; toughening techniques; patterned surface manufacturing; acid etching; carbon nanofibres; nanotechnology; double cantilever beam; DCB tests; crack propagation; fractured surface.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUTOC.2014.064111

International Journal of Automotive Composites, 2014 Vol.1 No.1, pp.3 - 17

Received: 05 Apr 2013
Accepted: 27 May 2013
Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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