Composite components regularly experience dynamic loads in service. Despite this, it is still difficult to obtain accurate mechanical properties of composite materials under high strain rate conditions. In this study, a new application of the Image-Based Inertial Impact (IBII) test methodology was developed, to generate an accurate in-plane transverse and shear moduli dataset from unidirectional (UD) off-axis composite specimens. The obtained dataset was consistent across different sample configurations, where results from the UD45$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ off-axis specimens agreed well with the UD90$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ values. Validation of the shear modulus identification was also undertaken by comparing the results from the UD90$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ and UD45$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ specimens with a multi-directional (MD) configuration. Here, it was found that MD±45$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ specimen shear modulus values where marginally lower than that from the UD specimens, in accordance with the lower fibre volume fraction of the MD laminate. Low strain rate sensitivities in the $$0.5-2\times$$ 0.5 - 2 × 10$$^{3}$$ 3  $$\hbox {s}^{-1}$$ s - 1 regime evidenced in this work suggest previously published data (often from split-Hopkinson bar tests) may include both a material and system i.e. testing apparatus response.

The Taylor test is used to determine damage evolution in carbon-fibre composites across a range of strain rates. The hierarchy of damage across the scales is key in determining the suite of operating mechanisms and high-speed diagnostics are used to determine states during dynamic loading. Experiments record the test response as a function of the orientation of the cylinder cut from the engineered multi-ply composite with high-speed photography and post-mortem target examination. The ensuing damage occurs during the shock compression phase but three other tensile loading modes operate during the test and these are explored. Experiment has shown that ply orientations respond to two components of release; longitudinal and radial as well as the hoop stresses generated in inelastic flow at the impact surface. The test is a discriminant not only of damage thresholds but of local failure modes and their kinetics.

Abstract. The current study assesses the application of the Taylor Test to validate hydrocode modelling of composite materials. 0º in-plane and through-thickness rods were cut from a 25 mm thick composite panel, made from autoclave cured 0º, 90º uni-directional carbon/epoxy prepreg. The rods were fired against a semi-infinite steel anvil and high-speed video imaging was used to capture the difference in rod shape and damage patterns during the experiments. Results of simulation with a rate sensitive, transversely isotropic composite material model implemented in the CTH hydrocode were compared with the present experiments. The model showed good correlation with global deformation of the rods, and was used to qualitatively assess some of the asymmetric deformation features in the material. As the present model implementation did not account for damage at this stage, it did not predict inter-ply delamination normal to the impact face for the in-plane 0º rods and that parallel to the impact face in the through-thickness samples.

The well-known Taylor cylinder impact test, which follows the impact of a flat-ended cylindrical rod onto a rigid stationary anvil, is conducted over a range of impact speeds for two polymers, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). In previous work, experiments and a model were developed to capture the deformation behaviour of the cylinder after impact. These works showed a region in which spatial and temporal variation of both longitudinal and radial deformation provided evidence of changes in phase within the material. In this further series of experiments, this region is imaged in a range of impacted targets at the Diamond synchrotron. Further techniques were fielded to resolve compressed regions within the recovered polymer cylinders that showed a fracture zone in the impact region. The combination of macroscopic high-speed photography and three-dimensional X-ray imaging has identified the development of failure with these polymers and shown that there is no abrupt transition in behaviours but rather a continuous range of responses to competing operating mechanisms. The behaviours noted in PEEK in these polymers show critical gaps in understanding of polymer high strain-rate response.

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Abstract. Analyzing the response of modern mobile platforms to ballistic impact is a challenge due to target mobility and inherent structural loads. The present work involves an experimental and numerical analysis of ballistic impact against simulated moving targets that are pre-stressed. Realization of the target movement was achieved by launching an inclined elongated projectile at an oblique target, with equal inclination and obliquity resulting in an experimental set-up corresponding to normal impact of the target plate by the projectile with a transverse velocity component. The present experimental analysis considers impact by a 0.5" calibre projectile against the aluminium target, with the objective to analyze the target damage. The modelling results reasonably agree with the experiments.

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