Impact damage detection in CFRP and GFRP curved composite laminates subjected to low-velocity impacts

In this paper, the behavior of the CFRP and GFRP curved composite laminates under low-velocity impact loads is studied both numerically and experimentally. The time history of the mid-point deflection of the laminate along with the area of the damaged zone due to the impact are evaluated as two important indices of determining the behavior of the curved composite laminate under a low-velocity impact. In this regard, the active thermography damage identification technique and the image processing technology are employed to determine the pattern as well as the area of the damaged zone. In addition, the effect of the shape of the projectile nose on the behavior of the curved composite laminate is investigated by employing projectiles with flat, spherical, and conical noses with the same mass of 680 g.