Analysis on the impact response of fiber-reinforced composite laminates: an emphasis on the FEM simulation

Abstract The effects of units, material parameters, and constitutive relationships on the dynamic mechanical response of composite laminates subjected to high- and low-velocity impacts were investigated. Additionally, the role of impact or shape, including hemispherical, flat, and conical, on the damage area of the adhesive layer and displacement of the center of the laminated plates was investigated. The results show that the energy absorption of composite laminates increases with impact velocity, and specific energy absorption changes with the density of the contact surface, which is affected by ply thickness. Moreover, the target energy absorption decreases with increasing layer angle. Under a low-velocity impact, the maximum contact force, damage area of the adhesive layer, and displacement of the center of the laminated plate increase as the impact energy increases, thus showing that impact energy is not directly related to contact duration and energy absorption of composite laminates. The results of different geometric shapes show that the damage area of the adhesive layer and the displacement of the center of the laminated plates are largest for a conical impactor and smallest for a flat impactor.