Analytical and experimental strain response in impact of composite cylinders

Abstract Accidental impact damage is an important issue in the use of structures made of advanced composite materials. As part of an overall program on impact damage, a study was conducted to determine the strain response of carbon/epoxy cylinders subjected to impact loading. Experiments were carried out on two sizes of cylinder, using an airgun impact apparatus. The cylinders and impact projectiles were designed so that the applicability of scaling rules could be considered. Theoretical analyses were also carried out for the impact loading, using a closed-form dynamic solution obtained previously. The results showed that the experimental strain data were quite reproducible. The strain results obtained followed the scaling rules quite accurately, over the range of geometric scaling of the two cylinders of 3·3. In general the theoretical analysis showed good comparison with the experimental data for impacts without damage formation. Higher impact velocities showed nonlinear strain response with velocity, indicating damage effects.

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