Impact-induced composite failure: an experimental-numerical investigation

In this work we provide an experimental-numerical investigation on impact-induced failure of layered composites. An experimental campaign, consisting of multiple drop tests, was performed to determine the delamination threshold (in the low-velocity regime) and to assess how, beyond this limit, failure mode is affected by the impact energy. Subsequently, finite element simulations were run to understand the outcomes of the experimental tests in terms of occurrence of damaging processes inside the laminates. A multi-domain-like analysis was conducted, wherein a three-dimensional space discretization was adopted close to the impact location, while a less demanding layered shell discretization was used in the remainder of the specimen.