Study of Impact Behavior of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Aluminum Composite Sandwich Panels at Constant Energy Levels

In this investigation, we assessed the potential of aluminum composite panels (ACPs) in sustainable engineering applications, focusing on the effects of different glass fiber weights on impact resistance and energy absorption capacity. Aluminum composite panels are an attractive option for sustainable applications due to their lightweight and high-strength properties. In this study, low-velocity impact tests were conducted on panels with glass fiber weights of 200 g/m2 and 400 g/m2 and equal numbers of fiber layers. The tests were performed using a constant impact energy of 55 joules, and the force–time, force–displacement, energy–time, and energy–displacement behaviors of ACP, 200 ACP, and 400 ACP samples were analyzed. The results showed that the 400 ACP samples exhibited the highest impact strength, the highest energy absorption capacity, and the least damage. In contrast, the other two samples showed lower impact resistance and exhibited fiber breaks, delaminations, and core material damage on their surfaces. The different glass fiber weights used in this study contributed to increases in the impact resistance and energy absorption capacity. Positive correlations were found between the glass fiber weight, layer thickness, and impact strength. These findings provide new insights into how composite materials can be designed to optimize mechanical properties by adjusting the fiber weights in coatings. These results also offer valuable information for the development of next-generation materials used in various sustainable engineering fields, such as automotive engineering and vehicle technology.