An Experimental Study on Drop weight Impact Properties of Composite Laminates Aluminum/Epoxy Resin with Fibers Reinforcement

Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) are consist of metal alloys and polymer composites. The benefit characteristics of both metals and composites consist in FMLs. In this experimental research work, four sets of FMLs were fabricated by a hand lay-up method and impact resistance induced by drop-weight instrument on different lay-up configuration was studied. In all sets, the top and bottom layers were Aluminium 2024 - T3 sheets. between the top and bottom Aluminium sheets, there were two composite layers. two sets, they are epoxy resin reinforced with carbon and aramid fibers fabrics. In the other two sets, the composite layers are epoxy resin reinforced with glass and aramid fibers fabrics. Experimental results showed that the best impact resistance is related to the FMLs consist of aluminum sheet/ epoxy resin- aramid fibers fabric / epoxy resin- glass fibers fabric/ aluminum sheet and it has lowest impact damage and lowest permanent central deflection.