A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELLING OF LOW VELOCITY IMPACT DAMAGE IN COMPOSITE LAMINATES

The modelling of the behaviour of laminates during low velocity impact requires, first, an analysis of the efficiency of the numerical tool used. A logical development in relation to the numerical structure of the code and the experimental observations is proposed. Four aspects of the code implementation are discussed. The first one is the representation of the impact loading by a macro-contact model using the Lagrange multiplier technique. The second is the development of this technique on the meso-scale to represent the assembly of plies of the laminate. The third step is the modelling of the evolution of the non homogeneous cracked state in the composite with an averaging technique, based on the LaweDvorak-Hejazi model, developed on the finite element scale. The fourth step is the modelling of the delamination between plies as a lack of contact set off by a mixed criterion matrix-CrackingJinterfacial forces. Numerical results on a glass-epoxy [02/906/02] laminate impacted at 27 J are in a good agreement with experimental observations