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Low-Velocity Impact Response and Finite Element Analysis of Four-Step 3-D Braided Composites

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Abstract

The low-velocity impact characters of 3-D braided carbon/epoxy composites were investigated from experimental and finite element simulation approaches. The quasi-static tests were carried out at a constant velocity of 2 mm/min on MTS 810.23 material tester system to obtain the indentation load–displacement curves and indentation damages. The low-velocity tests were conducted at the velocities from 1 m/s to 6 m/s (corresponding to the impact energy from 3.22 J to 116 J) on Instron Dynatup 9250 impact tester. The peak force, energy for peak force, time to peak force, and total energy absorption were obtained to determine the impact responses of 3-D braided composites. A unit cell model was established according to the microstructure of 3-D braided composites to derive the constitutive equation. Based on the model, a user-defined material subroutine (VUMAT) has been compiled by FORTRAN and connected with commercial finite element code ABAQUS/Explicit to calculate the impact damage. The unit cell model successfully predicted the impact response of 3-D braided composites. Furthermore, the stress wave propagation and failure mechanisms have been revealed from the finite element simulation results and ultimate damage morphologies of specimens.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial supports from the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers 11072058) and the Key-grant Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (No. 309014). The supports from Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of PR China (FANEDD, No. 201056), Shanghai Rising-Star Program (11QH1400100) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China are also gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China, 201620

    Baozhong Sun, Yan Zhang & Bohong Gu

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  1. Baozhong Sun
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  2. Yan Zhang
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Correspondence to Baozhong Sun.

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Sun, B., Zhang, Y. & Gu, B. Low-Velocity Impact Response and Finite Element Analysis of Four-Step 3-D Braided Composites. Appl Compos Mater 20, 397–413 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-012-9279-2

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