Initiation and propagation of damage in laminated composite shells due to low velocity impact

Abstract

A finite element analysis procedure is developed to investigate the initiation and propagation of damage in laminated composite shells, using a Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) model. A phenomenological damage model assuming the effective stress concept is introduced with a fourth order damage tensor to model the damage in a lamina. A nine nodded isoparametric shell element based on the first order shear deformation theory is used to develop the finite element analysis procedure. The initiation and progress of damage, variation of contact force and displacement in a spherical shell due to low velocity impact are studied for different impactor velocities.