Experimental Study on Impact Resistance of Thermoplastic Fiber–Metal Laminates with Different Layup Sequences

Thermoplastic fiber–metal hybrid composite laminates exhibit superior high-temperature resistance, fatigue resistance, and impact resistance, leading to their increasingly widespread application in the defense, military, aerospace, and marine engineering sectors. In this paper, the impact resistance of laminates with different layup sequences was compared and analyzed through high-speed impact experiments, the dynamic response and failure mechanisms of laminates were explored, and the influence rules of different factors on the impact resistance of laminates were revealed. The findings indicate that distinct laminate configurations possess varying ballistic limits and failure modes. As the number of aluminum alloy layers increases along the thickness direction of laminates, the ballistic limit decreases progressively. When the aluminum alloy layer is distributed on the back of the laminate, the deformation and delamination degree of the laminate will be reduced, and the ballistic limit of the laminate will be improved. The aluminum alloy sandwich will cause more fiber damage, which is not conducive to the energy dissipation of the laminate. These research outcomes are anticipated to provide a technical foundation for the broader application of thermoplastic fiber–metal hybrid composite laminates.