Correlating the Damage Behaviour of Polymer Composites with the Potential Energy of the Impactor

Abstract

Design of structures using composites requires comprehensive evaluation and characterization of mechanical properties in both undamaged and damaged state. Composite laminates undergo combinations of mechanical loading resulting into microdamage accumulation in the plies. The first mode of damage is usually intralaminar cracking with the crack plane transverse to the middle plane of the laminate, spanning the whole width of the laminate. The density of cracks in a ply depends on layer orientation with respect to the load direction, laminate lay-up, ply thickness, material fracture toughness and certainly, potential energy of the impactor. This article addresses the issues related to damage under impact loading. An investigation of damage initiation and experimentation on a woven glass/satin epoxy composite material was performed for different potential energies of the impactor. Plain weave glass/textile satin epoxy laminate with (0/90)_s orientation was investigated. Experimental data for laminate are summarized to establish a relationship between potential energy of the impactor and severity of damage.

Keywords: Woven composites, damage, potential energy, laminates, glass fabric