Response of Laminated Composite Structures Due to Low Velocity Impact

In this study, the capability of a finite element model based on shell element approach andmodelling a cohesive zone for laminated composite structures subjected to low velocityimpact is investigated. Various procedures are available to modelling impact phenomena bycommercial finite element codes. Accurate modelling of contact phenomena is based onappropriate selection of element type, solution method, failures criteria and contactmodelling. Most important mechanisms of energy absorption in a laminated structurescomposed of composite materials due to low velocity impact are intralaminar andinterlaminar failures. These failures modeled with a failure criterion and cohesive zonemodeling. The impact response and failures of one stacking sequence of a laminatedcomposite plate was simulated using explicit nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA. Focusof this study is to develop an efficient modeling with high degree of accuracy to predict theimpact response and damage developed due to low velocity impact and compares with experimental results from literature

Keywords:

Low velocity impact , Impact response , Laminated structure , Delamination