Damage mechanisms of composite laminates under impact loading including the effect of pre-load: Fid-Bau Portal

Damage mechanisms of composite laminates under impact loading including the effect of pre-load

Zhang, Wenxin / Zhang, Di / Zhou, Jin / Qi, Jiangwei / Zhao, Wen / Yang, Shuming / Dear, John P. / Liu, Haibao

Abstract The focus of the present research is on the damage modelling of composite laminates subjected to Low Velocity Impact (LVI). This research also shows how this model can be employed to assess the effect of pre-load. The composite damage model, integrating a VUMAT subroutine and a cohesive zone model, is first validated against the results obtained from conventional impacts on laminates without pre-load. The validated model is then employed to predict the impact response of pre-loaded composite laminates. It was found that the pre-load influences the load response, damage behaviour and energy absorption mechanisms of composite laminates. This is with pre-tension increases the maximum load during the impact event, whereas pre-compression has the opposite effect. Matrix cracking and delamination are found to be reduced slightly due to pre-tension, whilst matrix cracking and delamination are considerably increased by pre-compression. The developed model can provide guidance to the design and maintenance of composite components subjected to pre-load and impact.

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Highlights • An impact damage model, with user-defined material subroutine, has been developed and validated for composite materials. • The effect of pre-load on the damage mechanisms of composite laminates subjected to low velocity impact has been studied. • Pre-compression load has an aggravative effect on the impact damage in the composite laminates, whereas pre-tension has much less such type of effect. • The developed computational model is aimed to provide a guidance to the design and maintenance of composite structures subjected to pre-load.