Damage mechanism and structural optimization of hybrid CFRP I-Beams subjected the repeated low-velocity impact

Abstract

Aluminum wire mesh-reinforced CFRP I-beams combine the low density and high stiffness of CFRP with the plastic buffering capacity of aluminum wire mesh. However, variations in web height and impact energy lead to an incomplete understanding of the repeated-impact damage behavior of such hybrid structures. To address this issue, low-velocity-impact tests were conducted on composite I-beams with different structural parameters. The results reveal that aluminum mesh embedding significantly enhances impact resistance and reduces structural damage, while larger mesh thickness and reduced web height further improve impact performance. Consequently, specimens reinforced with the densest and thickest aluminum mesh exhibit peak impact force increases of 18.6% and 14.5% under repeated impacts compared with conventional CFRP I-beams.