A Novel Impact Fatigue Test Approach Based on Electromagnetic Loading: A Case Study on GFRP

ABSTRACT To facilitate a more efficient investigation of the mechanical response and damage behavior of composites under impact fatigue loading, a novel impact fatigue testing approach and platform based on electromagnetic induction are proposed. The stability of the approach was experimentally validated, and its performance under different loading parameters was systematically evaluated. Using this approach, impact fatigue experiments on glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) were conducted under three different low‐energy impact conditions (< 1 J). The results indicate that the electromagnetic impact fatigue approach exhibits significant advantages in loading frequency, energy control, and long‐term operation. The platform enables precise control of impact energy by adjusting the coil current parameters and exhibits stable and reliable loading performance. Furthermore, a pronounced decoupling was observed between the impact response and the evolution of macroscopic and microscopic damage in GFRP laminates. This result indicates that, under low‐energy impact fatigue conditions, the peak impact force cannot reliably indicate the extent of damage in the composite.