Impact response of cylindrically curved laminates including a large deformation scaling study

An ABAQUS finite element model, with and without geometric nonlinearity, is present ed for a laminated cylindrical shell subject to transverse central impact. Results From a nonlinear analysis and experimental drop weight impact tests are also discussed. A parametric study identifies impact energy and momentum scaling relationships with mass and velocity. For the present investigation, differences between scaling small and large deformation responses indicate that small deformation response may be momentum dominated and yet large deformation response may be energy dominated. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.