Improving the energy absorption capabilities of carbon fiber/epoxy composites by embedding steel wire meshes

Abstract Carbon fibers are widely utilized in various engineering fields such as automotive, aerospace, and civil infrastructure due to their exceptional properties including low density, high tensile strength, and high stiffness. Despite these advantageous characteristics, their inherently brittle nature poses significant limitations, particularly under impact loading conditions. To address this issue, hybrid composite structures comprising carbon fiber and steel wire mesh layers were fabricated using the vacuum infusion technique. This study investigates the influence of both the number and positioning of steel wire mesh layers on the energy absorption capacity and damage mechanisms of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites under low-velocity impact conditions. Impact tests were conducted at energy levels ranging from 20 to 40 J using a drop-weight impact testing machine. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of steel wire mesh significantly enhances the toughness and damage tolerance of the carbon fiber composites, indicating the effectiveness of hybridization as a strategy for improving the impact performance of brittle composite systems.