Research Information System
Proceedings of the 2nd Biennial European Joint Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. Part 1 (of 8), London, Canada, 4 - 07 July 1994, vol.64, pp.111-118
A new method is developed to predict the failure initiation in laminated composites resulting from low-velocity impact loading. Low-velocity impact phenomenon is considered as quasi-static. The pressure distribution during impact is calculated by means of Hertzian Contact Law. To calculate the strain fields in the laminate MSC/Nastran finite element software is utilized. By using the output strains from the finite element method layer strains are obtained. Then, these in-layer strains are used as input in the non-classical method to calculate fiber and matrix strains in each lamina. Although the resultant strain and stress values can be used in any failure criterion appropriate for a specific problem, in this study for simplicity, to predict the failure initiation Maximum Strain Failure Criterion is adopted. Sample results are calculated for a laminated composite, and these results are compared to the allowables given by a material producer.