Effect of impactor parameters and laminate characteristics on impact response and damage in curved composite laminates

The impact response and the impact-induced damage in a curved composite laminate subjected to transverse impact by a metallic impactor are studied using a three-dimensional finite element method. Several example problems of a graphite/epoxy cylindrical shell are considered and effects of impactor parameter (impactor velocity and impactor mass) and laminate characteristics (shell curvature and fiber orientation of plies) are established. Impact-induced damages (matrix cracking and delamination) are predicted using appropriate three-dimensional stress-based failure criteria. In order to take account of degradation of material due to damage during the impact, the stiffness matrix of the failed region of the laminate is reduced as the solution progresses.