Characterization of Low-Velocity Impact Damage in Asymmetric Composite Shells

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Luis Miguel Ferreira 1 , 2
Carlos A.C.P. Coelho 3
Paulo N.B. Reis 4
1 Grupo de Elasticidad y Resistencia de Materiales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino Descubrimientos, S/N 41092 Sevilla, España
2 Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, Sevilla, 41011, España
3 Unidade Departamental de Engenharias, Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Abrantes, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Rua 17 de Agosto de 1808 S/N 2200-370 Abrantes, Portugal
4 University of Coimbra, CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3030-780 Coimbra, Portugal
10.22055/jacm.2024.45986.4446
Abstract
Based on numerical modelling, this study investigates asymmetric semicylindrical composite laminate shells' damage characteristics under low-velocity impact loads. For this purpose, several asymmetric stacking sequences were subjected to low-velocity impact and the results were analysed in terms of force, displacement, contact time, and absorbed energy. It is concluded that the maximum impact force decreases with an increase in the number of layers oriented at 0°, particularly in the upper half of the laminate. The laminates with a 45° orientation in the upper layers present the lowest displacement values, whereas the laminates with the upper layers oriented at 0° exhibit longer contact times. It is also observed that intralaminar damage is responsible for almost half of the total impact energy, followed by delaminations and friction. Stacking sequences with upper layers at 45° exhibit slightly higher energy dissipation due to intralaminar damage (fibre failure) and interlaminar damage (delamination).
Keywords
Asymmetric composites
Damage characterization
Numerical modelling
Impact response
Subjects

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Journal of Applied and Computational Mechanics
Volume 11, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 98-109