Quasi-Static Penetration Properties of 3D-Printed Composite Plates

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Additive Manufacturing (AM), specifically Fused-Filament-Fabrication (FFF), offers novel ways to produce composite materials.
• Investigating the mechanical properties, such as impact and piercing load resistance, of FFF-printed composites is crucial for their practical application.
• Understanding energy absorption capabilities is key for designing protective structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact and piercing load resistance of 3D-printed composite plates manufactured via FFF.
• To compare the performance of composite plates reinforced with short-carbon-fiber versus continuous fibers.
• To assess the potential of FFF-printed composites against traditionally manufactured ones.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of two sets of composite plates using FFF: one with short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide-12, another with continuous fibers.
• Quasi-static indentation tests were performed using various Span-to-Punch ratios and indenter nose shapes (blunt, hemispherical, conical).
• Estimation of energy absorption capabilities during ballistic impact based on quasi-static test data.

Main Results:

• Continuous fiber reinforcement increased quasi-static energy absorption by 20-185% compared to short-fiber reinforced plates.
• Normalized energy absorbed by plates with continuous reinforcement increased by an order of magnitude.
• FFF-printed composite plates demonstrated competitive ballistic and quasi-static penetrating load resistance compared to traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• Continuous fiber reinforcement significantly enhances the energy absorption of FFF-printed composite plates.
• FFF technology shows promise for producing high-performance composite materials that rival traditionally manufactured ones.
• Further research into FFF-printed composites, particularly optimizing fiber volume fraction, is warranted.