Abstract
Fibre-reinforced laminated composites are susceptible to transverse impact, at low velocities causing significant damage, in terms of matrix cracks and delamination’s, which are very difficult to detect with the naked eye and can cause significant reductions in the strength and stiffness of the materials. This study aimed at analysing the transient dynamic response of laminated composites due to impact. The effect of fiber volume fraction, laminate thickness, plate boundary conditions, velocity and mass of impactor on the behaviour of composites during low velocity impact is analysed using ABAQUS software.
For the analysis, a laminated composite panel made of graphite/epoxy fiber-reinforced laminates is subjected to transverse impact by projectile with a spherical nose. Hashin failure model was adopted for the analysis.
The optimal fiber capacity fraction for extreme impact energy for T300/976 type of composite was determined. The velocity required to cause damage initiation was found out for different fiber volume fractions. The variation of contact force and central deflection with velocity and mass of impactor was determined and appropriate empirical models were developed to predict the maximum contact force and central deflection for particular values of impactor velocity and mass. The variation of resistance to failure with laminate thickness was found out and suitable boundary conditions of the plate were identified for different types of impact loading
INDEX TERMS—Fiber Reinforced laminated Composite, impactor mass, contact force central deflection