Characterization of high-velocity impact damage in CFRP laminates: Part II - prediction by smoothed particle hydrodynamics

High-velocity impact damage in CFRP laminates was studied experimentally and numerically. Part I of this study observed and evaluated near-perforation damage in the laminates and characterized the damage pattern experimentally. Part II predicts the extension of high-velocity impact damage based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), which facilitates the analysis of large deformations, contact, and separation of objects. A cross-ply laminate was divided into 0 and 90 layers, and virtual interlayer particles were inserted to express delamination. The damage patterns predicted on the surfaces and cross-sections agreed well with the experiments. The analyzed delamination shape was similar to that resulting from a low-velocity impact, consisting of pairs of fan-shaped delaminations symmetric about the impact point. Finally, the mechanisms of high-velocity impact damage in CFRP laminates are discussed based on the observations and numerical analyses. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.