PREDICTION OF DELAMINATION IN COMPOSITE LAMINATES SUBJECTED TO LOW-VELOCITY IMPACT

A method for predicting impact-induced delamination in composite laminates was proposed. This method is suitable for low velocity impact with heavy impactors. Static delamination fracture toughness was used to predict delamination crack growth under impact conditions. Curing stresses were also considered and found to play a significant role in evaluating the fracture toughness of some laminates such as [90(5)/0(5)/90(5)]. Experiments were performed to obtain the impact force history from which the peak force was used to determine the extent of delamination crack length. The prediction of delamination size using static fracture toughness was found to agree very well with the experimental result.