Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An experimental and numerical study of delamination propagation and arrest in composite beams and plates when subjected to low-velocity impact

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:7162396
The growth of delamination due to the low velocity central impact on simply supported graphite/epoxy laminate beams and plates was investigated. The quasi-static testing on these specimens showed a good correlation between the damage distribution in impacted, and specimens tested quasi-statically. The size of the damage in quasi-static tests was about 10% larger than that for a low velocity impact test. The double cantilever beam (DCB) and end notch fixture (ENF) test were utilized to determine modes 1 and 2 critical strain energy release rates of delamination. The dynamic finite element analysis coupled with fracture mechanics was employed to study the effects of loading rate on the critical strain energy release rate. Finally, a quasi-static 3-D finite element method was used to estimate the initial delamination propagation; other criteria were used to arrest the delamination and to estimate the delamination area in impacted plate specimens. Delamination area determined by this method correlated well with test results. All finite-element models included stiffness changes due to damage initiation and delamination propagation.
Research Organization:
Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (United States)
OSTI ID:
7162396
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English