ABSTRACT
The use of fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) in off-shore structures and marine vessels is growing rapidly due to their high strength and modulus, increased design flexibility, desirable thermal expansion characteristics, good resistance to corrosion, and economic efficiency. They possess additional advantages of better vibration damping than metals and transparency to radar waves. Glass fiber reinforced composite (GFRP) has less strength than carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRP). However, the higher cost of CFRP challenges commercial viability in the naval sector. The hybridization concept created a niche within the composite segment to customize materials catering to specific applications with reduced cost without sacrificing strength and durability. This study experimentally investigates the property improvements in hybridized carbon-glass composite under ballistic impact conditions in marine environment. Mechanical testing in this study includes tensile, Izod, and Charpy impact testing. The result shows significant improvements in tensile strength, impact properties, and ballistic limit for hybridized composite compared to plain GFRP. These improvements achieved by hybridization show greater potential in addressing significant concerns for marine application of composite materials in the future.
