An experimental study of damage accumulation in balanced CFRP laminates due to repeated impact

• Published in: Composite structures Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 247 - 258
• Main Authors: David-West, O.S., Nash, D.H., Banks, W.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Contact time; Damage progression; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Impact resistance; Laminates; Physics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Solid mechanics; Stiffness; Structural and continuum mechanics; Technology of polymers; Transient response; Impact resistance; Transient response; Contact time; Stiffness; Damage progression; Laminates; Fibre fracture; Stratified material; Perforation; Experimental study; Modeling; Plate; Low energy; Asymmetry; Impact strength; Matrix fracture; Fibre reinforced plastics; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Energy transfer; Mechanical shock; Damaging; Crack
• ISSN: 0263-8223; 1879-1085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2007.04.015

The behaviour of balanced laminates (symmetric, antisymmetric and asymmetric) under repeated low energy hits of a 12.1
mm hemispheric impactor was evaluated. The resistance to the impulsive force was found to be influenced by the stacking sequence and the crack path through the laminate. The symmetric plate with different ply directions proved to have best resistance to impact. The rate of damage progression in the event was characterised by an equation from the energy profile that correlates the propagation energy and time. This was differentiated to give the rate of damage evolution. A comparison of the bending stiffness obtained from the force–displacement plot of the first impact, revealed that the symmetric composite had the highest stiffness. Noted at perforation were fibre breakage and matrix cracking.