Experimental investigation of effects of nanoclay on ballistic properties of GLARE

This paper investigated experimentally the effect of nanoclay on ballistic impact behavior of GLARE. The prepared GlARE is made of two Aluminum 2024 facing sheets and E glass/ epoxy/nanoclay as nano composite core. Nano composite section has been composed of undirectional E glass 409 g/m2، resin CY 219، hardner HY 5161 and nanoclay closite 30B dispersed into the epoxy system in a 0%، 4%، 7% and 10% ratio in weight with respect to the matrix. All panels fabricated using laid-up method in fiber volume fraction of 60%. Ballistic tests were conducted using Gas gun at the velocity of 205 and 225 m/s. The results of the ballistic impact experiments show that the amount of Specific energy absorption variations in 4% of nanoclay content is insignificant. However، in nanoclay contents of 7% and 10%، the Specific energy absorption increases. To analyze the results of the ballistic impact on the GLARE، the effect of nanoclay on the longitudinal and transversal mechanical properties of the composite was investigated. A noticeable correlation was found between ballistic impact results and Changes of toughness in longitudinal and transversal direction.