Analysis of multiple impact tests’ damage to three-dimensional four-directional braided composites

Abstract This article was designed with a plurality of impact tests of three-dimensional four-directional braided composites, and the impact response of specimen impacted by a circular punch was studied. Ultrasonic C-scanning was used to detect the internal damage area to study the damage propagation process under multiple impact loads. The finite-element software ABAQUS was used to model the meso-structure of three-dimensional four-directional braided composites. Based on material characteristics, the three-dimensional Hashin damage criterion was used for the fiber bundle, and the maximum stress criterion was used for the matrix to judge the material damage. Combined with test and simulation results, the failure mode and damage evolution process of the specimen under multiple impact loads were studied. The results showed that the impact resistance of the three-dimensional woven composite material is affected by the braided angle. The larger the braided angle of the specimen, the better the impact resistance. The damaged area of the large braided angle material expanded to the periphery, and the damaged area of the small braided angle material was primarily developed in the longitudinal direction. The failure modes of the specimen during the impact process were primarily a longitudinal tensile failure of fiber bundles, transverse tensile failure and transverse compression failure of fiber bundles and matrix.