Abstract
There is limited information available in the body of knowledge regarding to the low velocity impact damage characteristics of sustainable bio-based such as flax fibre reinforced composites. This paper presents the results of full investigation of impact damage mechanisms on flax/vinyl ester laminated composite and flax-glass/vinyl ester hybrid composite laminates caused by low-velocity impact using a drop weight impact machine. The specimens were subjected to incident energy levels of 25 J and 50 J, in order to achieve a damage up to perforation and complete penetration. A 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model was also developed using Hashin failure criteria. The damage and the predicted delaminations were compared using a high-resolution micro-Computed Tomography (μ-CT) technique. The results of the numerical analysis correlated well with the experiments and the imaging, which provided a full verification of the exact position of delaminations due to impact within the composite laminates.
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