Effect of plate curvature on blast response of carbon composite panels

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of plate curvature on the blast response of 32 layered carbon composite panels. A shock tube apparatus was utilized to impart controlled blast loading on carbon fiber panels having three different radii of curvatures; infinite (Panel A), 305 mm (Panel B), and 112 mm (Panel C). These panels with dimensions of 203 mm × 203 mm × 2 mm were held under clamped boundary conditions during the blast loading. A 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique coupled with high speed photography was used to obtain out-of-plane deflection and velocity, as well as in-plane strains on the back face of the panels. There were two types of dominant failure mechanisms observed in all the three panels: fiber breakage and inter-layer delamination. Energy loss analysis was also performed which showed that Panel C had the best energy dissipation property. Macroscopic postmortem analysis and DIC results showed that Panel C can mitigate higher intensity blast waves without initiation of catastrophic damage in the panel. Panel B could sustain the least blast intensity and exhibited catastrophic failure. Panel A exhibited intermediate blast mitigation capacity.