Failure characterisation of blast-loaded fibre–metal laminate panels based on aluminium and glass–fibre reinforced polypropylene

Previous work on the blast response of aluminium/glass–fibre reinforced polypropylene fibre–metal laminates (FMLs) presented observations and quantitative analysis on panels of varying thickness and stacking configuration. Diamond and cross-shaped back face damage was observed and dimensionless analysis showed that the front and back face displacement fell within one plate thickness of a linear trend line [Langdon GS, Lemanski SL, Nurick GN, Simmons MC, Cantwell WJ, Schleyer GK. Behaviour of fibre–metal laminates subjected to localised blast loading: Part I – experimental observations. Int J Impact Eng, in press; Lemanski SL, Nurick GN, Langdon GS, Simmons MC, Cantwell WJ, Schleyer GK. Behaviour of fibre–metal laminates subjected to localised blast loading: Part II – quantitative analysis. Int J Impact Eng, in press]. This paper presents failure characterisation of the blast-loaded square fibre–metal laminate panels, identifying trends and failure modes for each panel type. Multiple debonding, large plastic displacement, fibre fracture and matrix cracking are identified as damage mechanisms within the panels. Back face spalling, debonding failure and front face buckling are also discussed.