Impact damage tolerance of laminate short columns subjected to uniform compression – Experimental investigation

Abstract

The behavior of thin-walled short columns (struts) with operating damages subjected to uniform compression were analyzed. The channels section struts made of 8 layer GFRP laminate with four different layer arrangement have been considered. Experimental tests have been performed on intact and pre-damaged short columns to access the influence of impact damages on the behavior of considered structures in full range of load till failure. Impacts with different energies (10 J, 20 J, 30 J) were introduced into webs, flanges and corners of columns. The observed damages have been described and categorized. The influence of the impact on the buckling and failure modes and loads, propagation of initial damages were investigated. The corner impacts have a catastrophic effect on the behavior of the compressed channel section columns in opposition to case when the webs are pre-damaged. Generally, compression after impact of thin walled profiles does not generate propagation of impact damage.