Mechanical response of CNTs-enhanced anisogrid composite panels to high-velocity impact

The present study represents the influence of adding different weight fractions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (0-0.5 wt.% at a step of 0.1) on the high velocity impact behavior of E-glass/epoxy anisogrid composite (AGC) panels. AGC panels were fabricated through manual filament winding method where E-glass woven fabrics and unidirectional E-glass fiber rovings were used as fibrous reinforcements of ribs and skin, respectively. High velocity impact test was performed on these plates by cylindrical projectile having conical nose. Obtained results revealed that the maximum improvement of the high velocity impact properties of AGC panels were obtained through the addition of 0.4 wt.% MWCNTs. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) examinations of the fracture surfaces clearly indicated the improvement in the interfacial adhesion between the fibers and epoxy matrix in the case of the nanocomposite specimens. Also, it was observed that the addition of MWCNTs to the AGC specimens led to reduce the damage area and increased the damage tolerance, considerably.