Simulation of Quasi-Isotropic E-Glass Composite Laminate at Low Velocity Impact with Cohesive Interface Elements

This paper examines the expediency of interface elements in modeling of impact damage analysis for Eglass composite laminate under low velocity impact test. Numerical modelsare built adopting cohesive interface behavior to authenticate the cross-ply damage response; and successively used the strategy to model the impact response of quasi-isotropic composite laminate. Impact test are performed to characterize the induced-damage behavior in quasi-isotropic composite laminate at different impact energy test in terms of impact force, displacement and damage size as well as the stress failure trajectory. Numerical result shows reliability of the model for structural impact analysisin damage initiation and progression in laminated composite plates. The simulation result though reveals large deformation, yet, did not yield in total fracture. This development shows the importance of adopting interface elements in structural impact damage criterion to trigger constraints effect on initiation phase.The study also reveals that the bottom most surface suffers huge deformation compare to the impact surface. It divulges that the extent of damage area in each ply of the composite laminate orients in the fiber direction in ‘star-shaped contour. The main novelty is the capability of using this model for structural impact analysis on both cross-ply and quasi-isotropic composite laminate.