Research on the dynamic mechanical property and failure mechanism of glass fiber reinforced aerogel

The dynamic mechanical property of glass fiber reinforced aerogel was investigated using a spilt Hopkinson pressure bar. Failure mechanism of aerogel was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result showed that the quasi-static and dynamic stress-strain curves contained three regions: an elastic region, a yield region and a densification region. In the yield region, the compressive stress-strain curve showed plastic yield characteristics. The compressive behaviors of aerogel displayed a remarkable strain rate strengthening effect. Incident wave shaping using aerogel led to the decrease of stress on the incident bar and the increase of stress duration time on the incident bar. Under high strain rates, the glass fibers broke down and separated from matrix, and the pores shrank rapidly. Failure was due to the increase of axial compressive stress and lateral tensile stress under dynamic compression.