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Experimental Investigation of Constituent Materials for Multilayered Impact Resistant Panels: Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic, Shape Memory Alloy, and  Titanium Alloy Lattice Structures

Authors

  • Muhammad Abid

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia, KSA
    Author

  • Haris Khalid

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia, KSA
    Author

  • Hafiz Abdul Wajid

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia, KSA
    Author

  • Uzair Ahmad Dar

    Centres of Excellence in Science and Applied Technologies (CESAT), Islamabad, Pakistan
    Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22581/0789

Keywords:

Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic (FRC), Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), Lattice Structures, Heat Treatment, Energy Absorption

Abstract

This experimental study investigates the mechanical performance and energy absorption characteristics of materials for a newly developed multilayered impact-resistant panel. The proposed lightweight structure combines fiber-reinforced ceramic (FRC), nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (SMA), and additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures in uniform body-centered cubic (UBCC) and vertical-strut (UBCCz) configurations. Each material was fabricated, heat-treated under controlled conditions, and mechanically tested to assess its suitability for impact-resistant applications. The FRC panels exhibited a compressive strength of 50 MPa and a fracture toughness of 2.8 MPa·m¹ᐟ², supporting their use as a strike-face layer. Heat treatment of the SMA at 700 °C for 30 minutes increased energy absorption by 21% and failure strain by 40%, while reducing tensile strength. For both UBCC and UBCCz Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures, non-heat-treated samples demonstrated superior compressive properties compared with heat-treated samples. Increasing the UBCCz strut diameter from 1 mm to 2 mm substantially improved compressive strength and energy absorption. The experimental results for the multilayered panel were in good agreement with numerical simulation results reported in the literature. At an impact velocity of 100 m/s, the panel distributed the impact energy across its layers: 21% was absorbed by the FRC, 28% by the SMA, and 50% by the titanium lattice, while the aluminum backing contributed minimally. Multilayered impact-resistant panels with the same sequence of material layers were physically fabricated. Further impact testing is recommended to evaluate the panels’ damage and energy absorption behavior.

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References

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Published

2026-10-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 4 (2026): October Issue

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Experimental Investigation of Constituent Materials for Multilayered Impact Resistant Panels: Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic, Shape Memory Alloy, and  Titanium Alloy Lattice Structures. (2026). Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 45(4), 138-147. https://doi.org/10.22581/0789

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