Efficient finite element simulation of compression after impact behaviour in quasi-isotropic composite laminates

A simple and efficient finite element modelling approach in LS-DYNA is presented for the simulation of residual strength in compression after impact tests of quasi-isotropic IM7/8552 carbon fibre reinforced composite laminates. The modelling strategy has been previously validated for transverse impact test simulations with impact energies ranging from 6 J up to 20 J. These results are used as input to analyse residual strength, quantitative and qualitative damage patterns as well as effects of prediction errors caused by the transverse impact simulations. It is found that residual strength in [45/0/90/ - 45]4s sub-laminate scaled laminates can be predicted reasonably well with a maximum error of 10%, whereas simulations of [452/02/902/ - 452]2s ply scaled laminates yield errors of up to 30%.