Comparative Analysis on the Flexural and Impact Behavior of Flat and Corrugated Kevlar Epoxy Composites

The present project focuses on developing and comparing the corrugated Kevlar Epoxy Composites (KEC) with flat KEC to understand their flexural strength and impact resistance. The improvement of composite laminate stiffness through geometric modifications is a critical consideration in materials engineering. Corrugation is identified as an effective method to increase stiffness in the direction perpendicular to the corrugation, concurrently improving energy absorption capabilities. The selected corrugated geometry for investigation, specifically for conducting Izod impact tests and flexural tests, was a circular pattern. The analysis of experimental data revealed an acceptable agreement between the flat and corrugated composite samples. A secondary objective of this research involves in the fabrication and testing of different corrugated structures like triangular, circular, square, and trapezoidal configurations. These structures, constructed with a single layer of Kevlar for testing purposes specifically focusing on the comparative analysis of impact properties. This part of the research underscores the examination of impact properties among different structures which are fabricated. The increased stiffness in the direction perpendicular to corrugation holds considerable usage for diverse applications, including but not limited to boats, helmets, and other uses of Kevlar fibers. This property effectively reduces the impact of damage on Kevlar composite structures.