Executive Summary : | Composite materials, particularly Kevlar epoxy composite plates and shells, have gained significant attention due to their high strength to weight ratio and impact resistance. PI has conducted high velocity impact studies on honeycomb sandwich structures and composite plate manufacturing using vacuum assisted methods, but more research is needed on high velocity impact on composite shell structures at various temperatures. This study aims to study high velocity impacts on Kevlar epoxy composite shell structures under thermal environments for defense applications using numerical and experimental techniques. The project will initially manufacture Kevlar epoxy composite shell structures of different curvatures using vacuum assisted resin transfer technique. The high velocity impact studies will be conducted using a single stage gas gun, and the studies will be extended to elevated temperature conditions using the available thermal setup. The study will also investigate the effect of impact at high temperatures on gas turbine blade-shaped structures to demonstrate their application in defense.
The experimental studies on shells, including Kevlar epoxy shells, parametric variations, impacts at different high velocities and temperatures, and the final study on gas turbine blade-shaped structures will add value to fundamental understanding and application research. Finite element analysis using LS-DYNA software will be used to understand impact behavior and validate experiments. Quantifying the damage effect on Kevlar epoxy composite shell structures subjected to high velocity impact experimentally and numerically at elevated temperature will significantly contribute to the development of advanced structures with high impact and thermal resistance for the defence and aerospace sectors. |