Experimental and numerical response and failure of laterally impacted carbon/glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composite laminates

Abstract

The paper presents low-velocity impact tests and finite element simulations of carbon/glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composite laminates struck by a pyramidal frustum impactor in order to examine crushing deformations and failure mechanisms. Three mass ratios between the carbon and glass fibre (1:2, 1:1 and 2:1) are considered to compare the influence of the fibre hybridisation on the impact resistance of these laminates. This investigation is an essential step in the design process when ship structural crashworthiness is considered. The experimental results are presented in terms of the force-displacement responses and permanent deformations. Aspects of particular relevance to the deformation and fracture behaviour of hybrid-composite structures subjected to accidental loads are discussed, especially fibre/matrix debonding and fibre damage. Glass fibre shows better impact resistance than carbon fibre, despite the higher modulus of the latter. A series of simulations performed by the LS-DYNA finite element solver are used to calibrate the material failure criteria based on the experimental data, and the sensitivity of the failure criteria to mesh sizes is investigated.