Nonlinear Dynamics of Thick Hybrid Composite Laminates Subjected to Low-Velocity Impact and Various Preloading

The composite primary structures of railway vehicles endure not only mechanical loads including tension, compression, bending, and torsion, but also external impacts, such as by the crushed stone in ballast. In the present study, the low-velocity impact response of preloaded hybrid composite laminates with different thicknesses is examined using a finite element method based on a progressive damage model. The hybrid plate consists of carbon fiber-reinforced unidirectional and woven prepregs. The progressive damage model, based on the 3D Hashin model, is validated by experiments on hybrid laminate, and further compared with the post-impact appearance obtained from CT scans. Preloading, considered to be tensile, compressive, or shear, corresponds to different positions in a bending beam with flanges and a web. Finally, the effects of impact energy, preloading, thickness, and impact angle on the dynamic response are analyzed, with an emphasis on new results and failure mechanism analysis comparing the influence of preloads under a given impact energy and different thicknesses.