Response of fibre metal laminates to blast loading
Author(s)
Shah, Syed Kamran Ayub
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Fibre-metal laminates (FMLs) are hybrid structures comprising interleaved metal sheets and
fibre reinforced polymer composites. In this work the performance of fibre metal laminated
plates under blast loading is studied numerically. The FML panels are made of alternating
layers of aluminium and glass fibre/polypropylene (GFRP) with different number of layers of
aluminium and composite and in the panels with equal number of layers, with different
thicknesses of GFPP.
The panels are subjected to global blast loading uniformly distributed over the surface of the
panel and to local blast loading applied at the centre of the panel with a spatial exponential
decay towards the edges. The displacements of the front and back faces are found to increase
linearly with increasing impulse. The results for global blast loading are correlated with
experimental results obtained by Langdon et.al [doi:10.1016/j.euromechsol.2007.09.003] and
for localised blast loading with experimental studies conducted by Langdon et.al
[doi:10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2006.05.008 , doi:10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2006.05.009]. A good correlation
between the experimental and numerical results is found. Back face debonding is found in all
the panels for both load cases.
The results are also compared with the response of mild and armour steel plates having the
same areal densities as FML panels. It has been shown that for the same impulse, the
displacement of mild steel plate with the same areal density is approximately twice the back
face displacement of FML for global blast and depends upon the thickness of mild steel plate.
Therefore, for global blast loading FML performs better and can withstand higher impulses
without rupture whereas mild steel plate tears apart for global blast loading and in certain
cases for local blast loading. On the other hand, the displacements in armour steel are 70% to
80% of the corresponding FML panel with same areal density when subjected to global or
local blast loading.
fibre reinforced polymer composites. In this work the performance of fibre metal laminated
plates under blast loading is studied numerically. The FML panels are made of alternating
layers of aluminium and glass fibre/polypropylene (GFRP) with different number of layers of
aluminium and composite and in the panels with equal number of layers, with different
thicknesses of GFPP.
The panels are subjected to global blast loading uniformly distributed over the surface of the
panel and to local blast loading applied at the centre of the panel with a spatial exponential
decay towards the edges. The displacements of the front and back faces are found to increase
linearly with increasing impulse. The results for global blast loading are correlated with
experimental results obtained by Langdon et.al [doi:10.1016/j.euromechsol.2007.09.003] and
for localised blast loading with experimental studies conducted by Langdon et.al
[doi:10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2006.05.008 , doi:10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2006.05.009]. A good correlation
between the experimental and numerical results is found. Back face debonding is found in all
the panels for both load cases.
The results are also compared with the response of mild and armour steel plates having the
same areal densities as FML panels. It has been shown that for the same impulse, the
displacement of mild steel plate with the same areal density is approximately twice the back
face displacement of FML for global blast and depends upon the thickness of mild steel plate.
Therefore, for global blast loading FML performs better and can withstand higher impulses
without rupture whereas mild steel plate tears apart for global blast loading and in certain
cases for local blast loading. On the other hand, the displacements in armour steel are 70% to
80% of the corresponding FML panel with same areal density when subjected to global or
local blast loading.
Date Issued
2011-12
Date Awarded
2012-07
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Louca, Luke
Publisher Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)