Investigation of laminated composite plates under impact dynamic loading using a three-dimensional hybrid stress finite element method

A laminated composite plate subject to central small area impact loading is analyzed. The analysis is achieved by using a three-dimensional hybrid stress finite element method in the space domain along with the Newmark direct integration method in the time domain. The contact force between the projectile and the laminated plate is modeled by the Herzian impact law. Numerical results of graphite-epoxy cross-ply laminates with different stacking sequences under two different impact velocities are investigated. Maximum transverse displacement at the center, maximum bending stresses and interlaminar shear stress are plotted as functions of time.