Thickness Effects on Impact Response of Composite Laminates
Abstract
In an effort to understand the impact response of composite laminates, various degrees of impact ranging from subperforation to perforation were introduced to glass/epoxy laminates through an instrumented drop-weight impactor. In addition, composite laminates of two thicknesses were examined for thickness effects. Experimental results showed that thickness plays a very important role in impact response. The impacted composite laminates were then subjected to compression after impact (CAI) tests for characterizations of residual mechanical properties. Experimental results showed that perforation was the most important damage stage in composite laminates subjected to impact loading since impact characteristics (peak force, contact duration, and absorbed energy) and mechanical properties degradation (residual compressive maximum force and residual compressive absorbed energy) of composite laminates became stable once perforation took place. Since the impact response of composite laminates is due to plate bending to some extent, bending analysis was used to explain the thickness effect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 21, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA452847
Entities
People
- Basavaraju B. Raju
- Dahsin Liu
- Xinglai Dang
Organizations
- Tank-automotive and Armaments Command