Low velocity impact response of GLARE laminates based on a new efficient implementation of Puck's criterion

This paper aims to explore the low velocity impact response of glass fiber composite/aluminum hybrid laminates (GLARE laminates). Puck's criterion with an improved algorithm and linear damage evolution laws based on equivalent strain are used for intralaminar damage models. The interface delamination is simulated by the bilinear cohesive model based on quadratic criteria in ABAQUS, and the Johnson-Cook model is applied to describe the mechanical properties of aluminum layers. The parametric modeling plug-in for impact analysis of GLARE laminates is set up by using ABAQUS-Python scripting language. Numerical analysis is performed on GLARE laminates with different metal layer thickness and impact energy to study the damage evolution behaviors of composite layers and interface, and plastic deformation of aluminum layers. The simulation results have a good agreement with the experimental results and the improved algorithm is proved to own higher computational accuracy. What's more, the influences of metal layer thickness on the impact responses are explored deeply, including the impact force-time/displacement curves and the energy dissipation mechanisms due to intralaminar damage including fiber tension, fiber compression, matrix tension and compression, interface delamination and plastic deformation of aluminum layers. In general, this research could be helpful to choose appropriate thickness of metal layers for GLARE laminates.