An experimental investigation on the impact response of composite materials

Due to the improved impact performance characteristics, composites are widely used in engineering and military applications to absorb the impact energy. Determination of impact response of composite materials provides the engineer and the manufacturer with critical knowledge to understand the failure criteria, initiation of the first failure and damage growth through the laminates. This study covers the investigation of impact damage growth and determination of Hertzian failure and maximum force thresholds in three different types of composites. Unidirectional E-Glass, woven E-Glass and woven Aramid composite samples with dimensions of 100 x 100 mm are subjected to low velocity impact with an instrumented impact test system. Rebound, on-set of perforation and perforation limits of composites are found out. Also, energy profile diagrams of both unidirectional and plain weave E-Glass composites are obtained. According to test results, woven composites are found to be superior to unidirectional composites in the protection limit of low velocity impact. It is also observed that damage growth in woven composites is restricted within a smaller area. Impact tests conclude that strength of the composite materials under dynamic loading increases considerably compared to static loading case as a result of strain rate sensitivity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.