Ballistic impact resistance and flexural performance of natural basalt fiber with carbon and glass fibers in inter‐ply hybrid composites

Abstract The ballistic and flexural behaviors of basalt (natural fabric), carbon, glass fiber, and their hybrid composites, were investigated in this study. The main objective of the paper was the addition of natural basalt fiber to the carbon and glass fibers with inter‐ply hybrid sequences to search for possible usage to the ballistic loads carrying structures. The composite and hybrid composite plates produced nine layers with cross‐ply stacking sequences ([0/90] 9 ). The ballistic impact tests were conducted using a specially designed ballistic test setup and the flexural tests were performed through the standard three‐point bending test. The results showed that basalt/epoxy absorbed the most energy under ballistic loading among all models. It was observed that the basalt‐glass‐basalt/epoxy (BGB) hybrid composite had an energy absorption capacity very close to the basalt/epoxy composite. When BGB and carbon‐glass‐carbon/epoxy (CGC) hybrid models were compared, the energy absorption capacity of CGC was 62.7% less than BGB. Unlike the ballistic test result, basalt/epoxy had the lowest flexural strength, while carbon/epoxy had the highest flexural strength. Among the hybrid models, it was seen that BGB had the lowest flexural strength, while CGC had the highest flexural strength. The flexural strength of the CGC is 38% higher than BGB. The study found that basalt fiber has high ballistic resistance, whether alone or when combined with commonly used fibers. It also suggests that basalt fiber is a promising candidate for future research and development in the field of protective materials. Highlights Basalt (natural fabric) composite materials behavior. Hybridization of basalt with carbon and glass. Target plates damage resistance according to applied ballistic loads. Target plates damage resistance according to applied flexural loads. Non‐hybrid and hybrid composites plates comparisons.