Based on the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) and the cohesive zone model (CZM), a numerical analysis method for the evaluation of damage in composite laminates under low-velocity impact is proposed. The intraply damage including matrix crack and fiber fracture is represented by the CDM which takes into account the progressive failure behavior in the ply, using the damage variable to describe the intraply damage state. The delamination is characterized by a special contact law including the CZM which takes into account the normal crack and the tangential slip. The effect of the interlaminar toughness on the impact damage is investigated, which is as yet seldom discussed in detail. The results reveal that as the interlaminar fracture toughness enhances, the delamination area and the dissipated energy caused by delamination decrease. The contribution of normal crack and tangential slip to delamination is evaluated numerically, and the later one is the dominant delamination type during the impact process. Meanwhile, the numerical prediction has a good agreement with the experimental results. The study is helpful for the optimal design and application of composite laminates, especially for the design of interlaminar toughness according to certain requirements.
The intralaminar and interlaminar damages of U3160/ 3266 laminated composites toughened by polyamide nonwoven fabric (PNF) under low velocity impact are investigated through a numerical model which considers both the three-dimensional continuum damage mechanics (CDM) and the bilinear cohesive zone model (CZM). The analysis of the intralaminar damage is implemented by the ABAQUS/Explicit finite element code coupled with a user-defined subroutine VUMAT where the longitudinal failure, transverse matrix cracking, and nonlinear shear of the material are taken into account. Then the effects of the thickness and strength of PNF/3266 interlayer on the damage of composites are numerically analyzed. The results reveal that damage morphology can be simulated qualitatively compared to the experimental counterparts. With the decreasing interlayer thickness or the increasing interlayer strength, the damage area is effectively reduced. This work provides an effective model to predict the low velocity impact damage of composites, and is helpful for the optimization of interlayer toughened composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1280-1291
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