Impact Characterization Diagram for DamageResistance/Tolerance in Composite Structures

This paper presents preliminary work on the utility of a characterization diagram in impact damage tolerance studies for composite structures. By placing the impact response on the diagram useful information on the type of response and damage could be deducted prior to running experiments. It is expected that this methodology could be a very powerful tool to designers and experimentalists who work in the area of commissioning composite structures for damage resistance and tolerance.