EFFECT OF THICKNESS ON THE COMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF BALLISTICALLY IMPACTED CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTIC (CFRP) LAMINATES

The response of structural elements under impact conditions is a parti cularly important consideration in the design of components made from composite materials. The understanding of this response includes both the impact behaviour and the influence of some design parameters and m aterial properties. Thus, the dependence of the residual compressive s trength of ballistically impacted carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFR P) laminates on their thickness has been examined. A previously verifi ed model developed by the authors, has been applied resulting in rathe r interesting findings about the effect of the thickness on the sensit ivity of a laminate to impact. The model takes into account the number of plies, the impact energy and the stacking sequence. Experimental r esults derived from the literature have been used for the verification of the model and a close agreement between theoretical predictions an d experimental results was found. Also, it can be concluded that the p resent work helps to optimize laminate impact behaviour by varying the laminate thickness.