Dynamic Response of Glass/Epoxy Laminated Composite Plates under Low-velocity Impact

In the presented paper, the phenomenon of impact response of glass/epoxy laminates of thickness 5, 7, 10 mm subjected to impact energy of 50, 100, 150 J were numerically analyzed using the commercially available finite element software LS-DYNA. To predict the energy absorption capability and damage response, a finite element model was developed. The impact response was assessed in terms of maximum displacement, contact force at the event of an impact and energy absorption. Laminates with higher thickness showed better results in deformation and contact force generation when compared with thin laminates. The numerical results in terms of displacement and contact force are validated with experimental studies in the literature. Moreover, there is a good agreement between numerical results and experimental studies. In this study chang chang failure criteria were considered for predicting the impact response at low-velocity impact. Based on the observed numerical results, the energy absorption capability and the perforation resistance of the laminated composite structure were revealed. These results can be further referred to in the design and modelling of the composite laminated structure subjected to impact loadings. A grid independent study has been performed in this paper, which will be helpful for the researchers to select an optimized element size to reduce the computational time. In addition, the finite element analysis reasonably predicted the impact load–displacement responses and the perforation energies of laminated plates.