Reference EPFL-ARTICLE-184271doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.08.001View record in Web of Science Record created on 2013-02-27, modified on 2017-05-10

Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

Ballistic impact mechanisms – A review on textiles and fibre-reinforced composites impact responses

Pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite is expected to be widely applied for civil infrastructures due to its advantages of lightweight, anti-corrosion, and industrial manufacturing. Its long-term performance has attracted increasing attentions from academia and industry. This paper presents a comprehensive review on experimental studies investigating the mechanical performance of pultruded FRP composites subjected to long-term environmental effects, including water/moisture, alkaline solutions, acidic solutions, low/high temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, freeze-thaw cycles, wet-dry cycles, and in situ environments. Over 1900 experimentally determined mechanical properties of FRP materials were collected, including tensile, compressive, flexural and shear strength and moduli. The reported test data were highly dispersed, and no uniform conclusions could be drawn from these data. Exposure to water and water-based solutions (alkaline and acidic solutions) had detrimental impacts on the mechanical properties of pultruded FRP materials, whereas other environmental effects induced various levels of degradation. The degradation mechanisms for each environmental effect were discussed, and the existing design approaches were presented. Based on the findings from this review, recommendations were proposed for future works. The database presented herein, which is the largest in the available literature, enables a comprehensive understanding of the degradation behavior of pultruded FRP composites. Moreover, this work can serve as a foundation for deriving predictive models for pultruded FRP materials exposed to long-term environmental effects.

A comprehensive review on mechanical properties of pultruded FRP composites subjected to long-term environmental effects

The Six Sigma Handbook

Even though natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs) have been widely used in automotive and building industries, there is still a room to promote them to high-level structural applications such as primary structural component specifically for bullet proof and ballistic applications. The promising performance of Kevlar fabrics and aramid had widely implemented in numerous ballistic and bullet proof applications including for bullet proof helmets, vest, and other armor parts provides an acceptable range of protection to soldiers. However, disposal of used Kevlar products would affect the disruption of the ecosystem and pollutes the environment. Replacing the current Kevlar fabric and aramid in the protective equipment with natural fibers with enhanced kinetic energy absorption and dissipation has been significant effort to upgrade the ballistic performance of the composite structure with green and renewable resources. The vast availability, low cost and ease of manufacturing of natural fibers have grasped the attention of researchers around the globe in order to study them in heavy armory equipment and high durable products. The possibility in enhancement of natural fiber’s mechanical properties has led the extension of research studies toward the application of NFRPCs for structural and ballistic applications. Hence, this article established a state-of-the-art review on the influence of utilizing various natural fibers as an alternative material to Kevlar fabric for armor structure system. The article also focuses on the effect of layering and sequencing of natural fiber fabric in the composites to advance the current armor structure system.

A Review on Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite for Bullet Proof and Ballistic Applications.

Accelerated weathering and soil burial effects on colour, biodegradability and thermal properties of bamboo/kenaf/epoxy hybrid composites

Anisotropic and inhomogeneous composite materials and components require a range of mechanical and physical testing, under a range of environmental conditions A variety of standardized mechanical tests on composite materials including high-force tension (tensile), compression, impact, flexural, shear, rheology, and fatigue are known Interestingly, the physical testing includes density, void content, water absorption, hardness, and scratch resistance Mechanical testing instruments are often configured with a range of fixtures that have been developed to provide various ways of testing composite materials depending on the type of material and its intended function Most fixtures are designed to meet specific materials testing standards Currently, polymer and polymer composite tests have been standardized by a number of organizations by leading manufacturers and research institutions The prime international composite testing standards are those maintained by ASTM, ISO, CEN (European Committee for Standardization), and other standards This compilation highlights the outstanding outline associated with the principles and experiments of mechanical and physical testing for both research and advanced technical applications of polymers and polymer composites

An overview of mechanical and physical testing of composite materials

The aim of this research is partial replacement of plain woven Kevlar 29(K) with naturally woven cocous nucifera sheath (CS) waste. Laminated K/CS reinforced epoxy hybrid composites were fabricated by hand lay-up method followed by hot compression moulding with 105 °C temperature at 275 bar pressure for 1 h. The total fibre loading of the hybrid composite was maintained 45 wt.% and the ratio of Kevlar and Cocous nucifera sheath varies in weight fraction of 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100. Mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact), moisture diffusion and morphological behaviour of the laminated composites were evaluated. The results showed that the hybrid composites (75/25) declined the tensile strength by 19% compared to Kevlar fabric reinforced epoxy composites. But, the hybrid composites (75/25) exhibited highest flexural strength (175 MPa) and flexural modulus (18 GPa) than pure Kevlar reinforced epoxy composites. Moreover, the impact toughness of hybrid composites (86 kJ/m2) at 75/25 wt.% showed good agreement with the pure Kevlar fabric reinforced polymer composites (90 kJ/m2). From the moisture diffusion analysis, hybrid composites (75/25) exhibited better moisture resistance. Statistical analysis of the results has been carried out using one way-ANOVA (analysis of variance) and it shows that there is a statically significant difference between the obtained mechanical properties of the laminated composites. Morphology of the tensile fractured laminates showed the delamination's, matrix cracking and fibre/matrix adhesion. From the results, it has been concluded that naturally woven Cocos nucifera sheath has the potential to replace Kevlar fabric in the polymer composites exclusively for defence applications.

Mechanical and moisture diffusion behaviour of hybrid Kevlar/Cocos nucifera sheath reinforced epoxy composites

This article reviews the literature studies based on improving the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced composites using fibre-prestressing method. The idea is characterized by pretensioning t...

/pdf/fibre-prestressed-polymer-matrix-composites-a-review-54h59v76kp.pdf

Fibre prestressed polymer-matrix composites: a review:

Combat helmets have been utilized to provide protection against a variety of ballistic threats, by reducing traumatic head injuries and fatalities. Nevertheless, head protection from injury is crit...

M.T.H. Sultan

Papers

Accelerated weathering and soil burial effects on colour, biodegradability and thermal properties of bamboo/kenaf/epoxy hybrid composites

An overview of mechanical and physical testing of composite materials

Mechanical and moisture diffusion behaviour of hybrid Kevlar/Cocos nucifera sheath reinforced epoxy composites

Fibre prestressed polymer-matrix composites: a review:

Effect of kenaf fibers on trauma penetration depth and ballistic impact resistance for laminated composites