Transient response of delaminated composite conical shells due to multiple low velocity impacts in hygrothermal environment

This paper presents a finite element based method to investigate the hygrothermal effects on the transient dynamic response of delaminated composite pretwisted conical shells with initial twist impacted at arbitrary locations by multiple spherical impactors. An eight-noded shell element has been used in the present analysis based on the Mindlin's theory. The generalized dynamic equilibrium equation is derived from Lagrange's equation of motion neglecting Coriolis effect for moderate rotational speeds. The multi-point constraint algorithm has been incorporated to ensure the compatibility of deformation and equilibrium of resultant forces and moments at the delamination crack front. The indentation laws as proposed by Hertz have been implemented to compute the contact force and displacement arising from each impact on specific locations of delaminated conical shells already prestressed by residual thermal or moisture strains. Results have been presented to depict the influence of important parameters like, twist angle, size and location of delamination, velocity and mass of the impactors and the time-delay between the impactors on the multiple impact response of delaminated composite conical shells in hygrothermal environment. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.