A perturbation-based model for the prediction of responses involving delamination during small mass impacts on orthotropic composite plates

Abstract An analytical model was developed for the prediction of small-mass-impact response including delamination effects in orthotropic composite plates, which mainly focuses on the relatively weak resistance of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates to small mass impact. Mode parameters of the delaminated structure obtained through perturbation-based dynamic analysis were substituted into the dynamic impact model. The alterations of the structural response caused by the occurrence of delamination were predicted by applying the premeasured delamination threshold load (DTL) to the developed model. The occurrence of delamination was clearly shown by a descent following a sudden rise on the velocity curve of the impact point. Impact tests with different initial energy were conducted on FRP laminated plates of varying thickness. The experimental results were well consistent with the analytical prediction. The validity of the proposed model was further confirmed using exploratory experiments with the velocity measurement point located nearby the impact point. The proposed model was more practically applicable than finite element modelling due to its efficiency in terms of time.