Abstract
This paper presents prediction of the high velocity, oblique impact response and quasi-static residual tensile strength of thin [45/90/-45/ 0]2s carbon/epoxy laminates using finite element (FE) models. A High-Fidelity Finite Element Method (Hi-FEM) with an automated unit cell meshing technique was employed. The predicted impact damage, characterised by the extent of fibre failure and delamination area, was validated against results from gas-gun tests for a range of impact velocities. The numerical results captured the trend of increasing impact damage with impact energy as observed from the tests. Changes in projectile orientation before impact were shown to increase the extent of fibre failure at high impact energies, up by 38% in edge impact cases. The residual tensile strength of the impacted laminates was then investigated, where the numerical results for edge-impacted laminates agreed with the test data within 8%. On the other hand, the residual strength modelling results of centre-impacted laminates were found to be unconserva.ve, mainly due to the extent of fibre failure predicted during impact. Machined notches were also studied for their residual tensile strength in comparison to impact induced damage. The predicted strength of edge-notched laminates was found to be in close agreement with the experimental results for edge-impacted laminates, differing by an average of 9%.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 113476 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Composite Structures |
Volume | 259 |
Early online date | 30 Dec 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to acknowledge support from Rolls-Royce plc for this research through the Composites University Technology Centre (UTC) at the University of Bristol and from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Composites at the University of Bristol (Grant no. EP/L016028/1).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
Keywords
- Laminate
- Impact behaviour
- Strength
- Finite element analysis (FEA)
- Notch