Investigation of the 2D assumption in the image‐based inertial impact test

Abstract The image‐based inertial impact (IBII) test has shown promise for measuring properties of composites at strain rates where existing test methods become unreliable due to inertial effects (> 10² s⁻¹). Typically, the IBII tests are performed with a single camera, and therefore, to use surface measurements for material property identification, it is necessary to assume that the test is two‐dimensional. In this work, synchronised ultra‐high‐speed cameras are used to quantify the relevance of this assumption when nonuniform, through‐the‐thickness loading is applied to interlaminar samples. Initial experiments revealed that an angular misalignment of approximately 1° between the impact faces of the waveguide and projectile created a bending wave that propagated along the sample behind the axial pulse. Even under these conditions, consistent measurements of stiffness were made by assuming a linear distribution of the behaviour through‐the‐thickness. When the misalignment was reduced to 0.2°, the effects on single‐sided measurements were significantly reduced. The two alignment cases were compared to show that three‐dimensional loading had a small effect on stiffness identification (approximately 5% bias) relative to failure stress (approximately 30% bias). This study highlights the importance of impact alignment for reliable characterisation of the interlaminar failure stress and was used to establish guidelines for diagnosing loading issues from single‐sided measurements.