Damage Evolution and Energy Absorption of Natural Basalt/Carbon/Glass Hybrid Laminates Under Quasi‐Static Indentation and Charpy Impact Loading

ABSTRACT Natural basalt fibers have emerged as promising sustainable reinforcements for hybrid laminates; however, the relationship between quasi‐static indentation (QSI), Charpy impact behavior, and damage evolution in basalt/carbon/glass hybrid laminates remains insufficiently understood. In this study, nine‐layer monolithic and hybrid laminates were manufactured by vacuum infusion and evaluated under quasi‐static indentation and Charpy impact loading. Mechanical performance was assessed through force–displacement response, peak indentation load (Pmax), absorbed energy (Eabs), specific energy absorption (SEA), optical damage morphology, and statistical analyses (one‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD). The results showed that the face‐sheet material governed the initial stiffness, indentation resistance, and damage initiation, whereas the core material controlled post‐peak deformation and energy dissipation. Carbon‐faced laminates exhibited the highest peak indentation loads but failed through localized brittle damage. In contrast, basalt‐faced laminates promoted progressive damage characterized by distributed interlaminar delamination and fiber pull‐out, resulting in superior energy absorption and structural efficiency. Among the investigated configurations, H2‐CBC exhibited the most balanced quasi‐static mechanical performance, whereas H3‐BGB achieved the highest absorbed energy (16.19 ± 0.93 J), specific energy absorption (516.85 ± 9.77 J kg −1 ), and edgewise Charpy impact performance. Statistical analyses confirmed that laminate configuration significantly affected all mechanical responses ( p < 0.001). The strong agreement between mechanical behavior, statistical validation, and optical damage morphology demonstrates that fiber hybridization governs both the mechanical response and failure evolution. These findings establish a direct correlation between quasi‐static indentation, Charpy impact behavior, and damage evolution, providing design guidance for lightweight, damage‐tolerant hybrid structures in aerospace, automotive, and protective engineering applications.