Polymer matrix woven fabric composites subjected to low velocity impact: Part I - Damage initiation studies

An investigation was undertaken to study the damage initiation behavior in polymer matrix laminated composite plates subjected to a transverse central low velocity point impact load. Inplane failure of the layers in the form of matrix cracking/lamina splitting and delaminations were the primary obje ctives of the study. The study has been carried out using modified Hertz co ntact law and an inhouse three-dimensional transient finite element analysi s (FEA) code. The inplane failure functions and the interlaminar failure fu nctions have been predicted using quadratic failure criteria. The inhouse F EA code was validated with other analytical studies and the experimental re sults in our earlier work. The present studies have been carried out on dif ferent plain weave fabric laminated composite plates, simply supported on a il four sides. For comparison, impact behavior of balanced symmetric crossp ly (CP) Laminates made of unidirectional (UD) layers and UD composites has been included. The studies have been carried out with plate dimensions of 1 50 mm x 150 mm with different prate thicknesses. Incident impact velocity i n the range of 1 m/sec to 3 m/sec and impactor mass of 50 gm are considered . General observations on the distribution of failure functions and the ini tiation of damage are presented.