Low velocity impact behavior of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites with different preloads

One of the most important problems in the application of composite materials is recycling subject. Since the thermoset matrix composites does not let into the production process again, usage of these composites causes the environmental pollution. For this reason, the usage of thermoplastic matrix composites is becoming widespread, increasingly. In this context, the low velocity impact behaviors of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene thermoplastic composites are investigated experimentally in the thesis study. The behaviors of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites produced in different thicknesses and configuration without preloads and different preloads conditions are investigated. Tensile, compressive and shear (tensile and compressive) are determined by means of the designed apparatus as the preload conditions in operation. 250 microns were applied as the compressive preloads while 250 microns and 500 microns were applied as the tensile and shear preloads, respectively. Low velocity impact behaviors and also repeated impact behaviors of the specimens with thicknesses of 2 and 3 mm were evaluated through various curves.