Damage characterization of carbon/epoxy laminates using compression-after-impact (CAI) and ultrasonic NDE

Abstract

A study of impact damage morphology in unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates was performed. A "load drop" method was investigated for prediction of the delamination threshold energy (E DT ) for impact. The impacted samples were subjected to uniaxial, in-plane compression to observe the growth of damage, failure modes, and residual strength. Samples were scanned before and after CAI using air-coupled throughtransmission ultrasound and amplitude C-scans were collected for visual inspection of damage. ABSTRACT. A study of impact damage morphology in unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates was performed. A "load drop" method was investigated for prediction of the delamination threshold energy ‫ܧ(‬ ் ) for impact. The impacted samples were subjected to uniaxial, in-plane compression to observe the growth of damage, failure modes, and residual strength. Samples were scanned before and after CAI using air-coupled through-transmission ultrasound and amplitude C-scans were collected for visual inspection of damage.