In-plane compression response of woven CFRP composite after low-velocity impact: Modelling and experiment

Abstract

To predict the low-velocity impact (LVI) and compression-after-impact (CAI) behaviour of woven carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, a finite element (FE) model was developed addressing the inter-laminar and intra-laminar failure of the CFRP composites. First, LVI and CAI experiments were performed to obtain the force-displacement relations, failure modes, microscopic damage and CAI strength of the CFRP laminates, and the experimental results were utilised to validate the present FE model. The LVI and CAI responses of the composites obtained from the FE results agreed well with the experimental ones. Microscopic damage analysis of the CFRP composites after LVI and CAI tests was then conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicating the occurrence of three failure modes, i.e. fibre breakage, matrix cracking and delamination, which were addressed in the FE model. Finally, the effects of impactor diameter and impact energy on the impact damage and CAI behaviours were determined using the present FE model, and the damage mechanism was correspondingly discussed.