Evaluation of delamination resistance of glass fibre reinforced polymers under impact loading

Impact resistance of four glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) has been a ssessed. The main difference among the four GFRP's is the polymer used for the matrix: orthophthalic polyester isophthalic polyester; vinyl ester and DGEBA-based epoxy. The impact resistance was evaluated through the measurem ent of the energy absorbed during impact, and the total delamination area g enerated The latter was achieved using multiple non-destructive testing tec hniques. The experimental results presented here show that CFRP specimens w ith the epoxy matrix is more resistant to impact damage than the other GFRP s. It is also demonstrated that a linear relationship exists between the ab sorbed energy and the input impact energy, as well as between the fetal dam aged area and the input impact energy. Furthermore, the feasibility of meas uring the total delamination area, based on ultrasonic C-scan measurements, and the possibility of estimating mode II dynamic strain energy release ra te, G(my) using un-notched specimens is discussed.