Abstract
This study presents a new approach method for instrumented drop weight tests, with a central spherical impactor and a circular sample support. The tests were carried out on glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates with three types of reinforcement: plain-woven fabric, stitched plain-woven fabric and 3D non-crimp fabric (NCF). It was found that the plain-woven fabric reinforced laminate showed a more violent destruction mode (a massive fracture crack) in comparison with the other two. The stitched and the 3D NCF reinforced laminates exhibited a better impact resistance manifested by a higher stress at the failure initiation point, and a slower or totally arrested fracture crack growth. The applied methodology proved effective for the evaluation of materials under impact loading conditions. A novel element is the use of fast-frame camera images to measure the displacement of the specimens during the impact. It strongly improved the obtained results and enabled a reliable analysis of the strain-stress progress.
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