LOW VELOCITY IMPACT ANALYSIS ON AN UNIDIRECTIONAL LAMINATE COMPOSITE

In this paper a Progressive Failure Analysis using finite element models are investigate to characterize the impact damage of a unidirectional reinforced carbon/epoxy-laminated composite materials. Low velocity impact could cause significant damage, in terms of matrix cracking and delamination. Such damages are very difficulty to detect by naked eye and can lead to severe reductions in the stiffness and strength of the structures so it is very important to predict them through finite element approach. The behaviour of composite structures subjected to low velocity impact has been studied by numerous researchers, including experimental, numerical and analytical works. Most of the published literatures focused the impact analysis on flat plates [7,11]. Only a few researches have been studied the low velocity impact of laminate shells [8]. Analytical solutions for the impact response of laminate plates are presented by Christorforou et alii [3], Cairns et alii [4] and Prasad et alii [5]. The contact force graph, the position and size of the delamination and its propagation referred to impact velocity have been characterized in this paper through Progressive Failure Analysis (PFA) by GENOA/Ls-Dyna and Nastran software. Moreover, the analysis results have been compared with the literature results [2].