Strain rate effect on the tensile properties of plain weave aramid, carbon, and glass fabric reinforced monolithic and hybrid composites

The tensile responses of three monolithic composites (aramid, carbon, and glass) and three different interply hybrid composite laminates (aramid/carbon, glass/aramid, and glass/carbon) were studied at quasi-static and intermediate strain rates. Monolithic composites were found to be more sensitive to strain rate than hybrid counterparts. The hybrids with glass layers had the highest sensitivity among the hybrid laminates. Tensile strengths of aramid, carbon, and glass monolithic composites improved by 15.2 %, 10.1 %, and 22.2 %, respectively, as the strain rate was increased from 0.001 s-1 to 10 s-1, while increases in tensile strengths of aramid/carbon, glass/aramid and glass/carbon hybrid laminates were 8.8 %, 17.7 %, and 5.2 %, respectively. Hybridization of glass with aramid gave the highest failure strain gain. Carbon layers located at the centre of the hybrid laminates resulted in increased tensile strength.