Influence of barely visible impact damage on post-impact residual flexural properties of hybrid Fibri Rock – Aero Eco-composites

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the effects of barely visible impact damage (BVID) under low-velocity impact and its influence on post-impact residual flexural properties of hybrid flax-basalt Eco-composites Fibri Rock –Aero of 2 and 4 mm in thickness using drop weight impact and 3-point bending tests. The damage-induced was characterised by X-ray micro computed tomography (X-ray µCT) technique. The results show that the post-impact residual flexural strength (PI-RFS) and modulus of the composites are dependent on their thickness and incident impact energies employed. A significant damage was evident for both types of specimens caused by microscopic inter-laminar delamination and cracks induced especially at the highest incident energy with a noticeable reduction on PI-RFS and modulus.