Deformation and damage of composite laminates under impact loading

An analysis was conducted of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy plates 8-ply and 16-ply thick clamped around a circumference, subjected to central impact loading. The imparted energy, load history, and transient strains at various locations through the thickness were obtained. The dynamic load history for the thin laminate demonstrates a higher peak load of shorter duration than for the thick laminate, whereas the load record for the thick laminate shows more pronounced fluctuations than for the thin laminate, related to more extensive damage development and flexural oscillations in the former.