Shock Response Behaviour of E-Glass/Epoxy Composites

Shock response studies on E-glass/epoxy composites were carried out using compressed gas driven shock tube. The shock waves were generated in shock tube by using helium and air as driver and driven gases, respectively. The real time pressure profiles of the incident and reflected shock waves were recorded using piezoelectric pressure sensors. The effect of diaphragm thickness on the shock pressures was also studied. The peak incident and reflected pressures are found to be in the range of 5–10 and 16–45 bars, respectively. The composites were subjected to these shock pressures and the real time deformations were captured using 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) technique. The composites showed maximum transient and permanent displacements of 39 and 33 mm, respectively, when subjected to 45 bars of shock pressure. The composites showed different damage modes such as large inelastic deformation, matrix cracking, slight delamination, and fibre breakage. The permanent displacements recorded with 3D DIC are in good agreement with the experimentally measured values.