A Semi-Empirical Damage Evaluation Criterion for Thin Composite Impact Analysis

Abstract The present work aimed to develop a semi-empirical criterion able describe impact events on GFRP and CFRP (glass carbon fiber reinforced polymers) composite thin laminates: these are generate large damages involving multiple mechanisms such as matrix cracking, failure and, above all, delamination. Main purpose of this research was obtain an accurate numerical description the region in terms damage extension depth without modelization adhesive layers. Starting from experimental campaign drop-weight tests representative specimens implementation related Ansys LS-DYNA models exploiting equivalent shell approach, developed calibrated tool written implemented within LsPrePost, evaluating its reliability by means correlation with drop tests.