Nonlinear effect of Low-velocity impact on tapered laminated composite structures using spline finite strip method

Abstract

In present paper, the behavior of tapered composite plate under low-velocity impact was studied. The tapered plates were used in many structures according to their stiffness to weight ratio, while, the behavior of such plates did not evaluate under impact load in the literatures. Geometrically nonlinear Von-Karman strain was taken into account with respect to large deformations. The spline finite strip method (SFSM) was used to predict the impact behavior of composite laminates. The numerical fourth-order Runge-Kutta integration technique was used to solve the governing differential equations. The displacement field was defined according to the refined plate theory. The four most common internal taper configurations were considered. Local indentation was modeled with the help of contact Hertz’s laws. The governing differential equation was written based on the principal of virtual displacement and Hamilton’s principle for dynamic systems. The obtained results on eccentric impact showed that contact force and indentation are increased when indenter contact near supports.