This paper on "Modelling Impact Damage in Laminated Composites" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on Design, Simulation & Optimisation: Reliability & Applicability of Computational Methods - 9-11 April 1997, Stuttgart, Germany.

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of dynamically predicting impact response and damage in carbon composite structures - and not just simple coupon tests. It is shown that FE models can be used without resort to 3-D bricks, just shear-deformable plate elements. A threshold is found experimentally and theoretically below which no damage occurs, but when it is exceeded the damage is explosive. A new form of dynamic relaxation is used to overcome the problem of mode switching which occurs when panels are loaded beyond initial buckling.