Study of impact damage on composite laminates induced by strip impactor using DIC and infrared thermography

This paper studies the impact damage induced by strip impactors and residual mechanical performance of composite laminates using DIC and infrared thermography. A continuum damage model and a cohesive model were adopted to simulate the intralaminar and interlaminar behaviors, respectively. The results reveal that the delamination area and residual load capacity decrease as impact angle increases. During compression after impact (CAI) process, the strain concentration in damage area causes local buckling. After that the delamination and matrix damage initiate, followed by fiber damage. The whole laminates collapse when the fiber damage area covers the whole width of the damage area.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the impact damage caused by strip impactors and residual mechanical performance of composite laminates using DIC and infrared thermography. A continuum damage model and a cohesive model were utilized to simulate the intralaminar and interlaminar behaviors, respectively. The results indicate that the delamination area and residual load capacity decrease as the impact angle increases. Compression after impact (CAI) process leads to strain concentration in the damage area and local buckling. Subsequently, delamination and matrix damage occur, followed by fiber damage. The composite laminates collapse when the fiber damage area covers the whole width of the damage area.