The effects of test parameters on the impact response of glass reinforced plastic using an experimental design approach

An instrumented falling weight machine was used to investigate the effects of test parameters on the impact response of low fibre-volume E-glass woven-roving reinforced polyester coupons. Statistical experimental design techniques were used to plan the experiment and to analyse the data. All the parameters considered were found to affect the responses in a complex and interacting manner. Multiple damage modes occurred and the damage mechanisms were seen to vary with the test parameters. Identification of the important parameter effects above the experimental variation using statistical methods combined with graphical representation of these effects and the failure modes simplified the interpretation of the results. It was demonstrated that the techniques of statistical design of experiments are powerful to identify the interaction among parameters that govern the structural response in particular when there are many parameters.