The use of composites has gained interest in defense as well as commercial applications in recent years. High costs associated with processing, materials and availability of quantitative standardized data have been limiting factors in the widespread usage of composite materials. The expectancy from engineered structures has extended beyond conventional designs to provide integrated features with multifunctional benefits. With emergence of newer techniques for processing, there is lack of historical databases for process-structureproperty relationships. The present study focuses on application of composites for armored vehicles (for e.g. tanks and trucks). Thicksection laminated and multi-layered integrated composites have been processed/manufactured with the aim of providing multi-functionality including easy reparability, quick deployment, enhanced ballistic damage and fire protection. In the present study, cost-effective liquid molding processes such as resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum assisted resin transfer/infusion molding (VARTM) have been utilized to produce thick-section and integrated designs. The processing of thick-section composite panels and integral armor has been discussed. In-situ flow and cure monitoring of the resin in the fiber perform has been conducted using embedded direct current (DC) as well as dielectric (AC) sensors. The concept of through the thickness perform stitching to enhance damage tolerance in VARTM processed composites is presented, with supporting results from dynamic high strain rate (HSR) impact testing.
Lighter weight ground combat vehicles; marine bodies and aircraft structures are candidate applications for fabric/textile composites and/or layered material architecture. Composites offer improved deploy ability, survivability, and agility for such applications [1–3]. Recent developments include use of composite materials in components such as armored tank hull, crew capsule, rear engine bulkhead, ramp and sidewalls etc. Several types of fabric architectures and resin compositions (for example, S-2 glass, vinyl ester, epoxy and phenolic resins) are applicable either as monocoque or sandwich constructions [1–5].
