Experimental and numerical validation of high strain rate impact response and progressive damage of 3D orthogonal woven composites

Advanced three-dimensional (3D) woven composites for aerospace and automotive applications are commonly subjected to complex dynamic environments involving vibrations and impacts, resulting in examining their impact properties is extremely important. This paper first experimentally discussed the influences of strain rates, weft yarn densities and loading directions on the impact performances and failure mechanisms of 3D orthogonal woven composites (3DOWCs). Secondly, full-scale finite element models were developed to predict the stress distribution and interfacial damage evolution process. The predictions were well in agreement with the experimental results. This research revealed that the impact characteristics exhibited strain rate sensitivity. With increasing weft yarn densities, the high strain rate impact behaviors also improved. Particularly, the warp impact strength of 3DOWCs with a weft yarn density of 2 yarn/cm (W5-2) at 812 s⁻¹ was 17.4% and 24.0% higher than that of 3DOWCs with a weft yarn density of 1.5 yarn/cm (W5-1) at 822 s⁻¹. Meanwhile, warp impact strength consistently exceeded to that of the weft impact strength. Additionally, strain rates, weft yarn densities, and loading directions dramatically affected the stress distribution and interfacial damage evolution process of 3DOWCs. Significant warp yarns fracture and matrix cracking were the principal failure patterns in the warp impact, whereas the damage in the weft impact was dominated by localized fracture of weft yarns and interfacial debonding.