Stress distribution in damaged composite laminates under transverse impact

Studies on damage in composite laminates subjected to central and normal impact are conducted by a 3-D finite element analysis. The stress analysis is carried out by developing a constitutive equation of composite laminates coupled with the damage. Effects of the damage on the stress distribution in the laminates are investigated in details. The obtained contact force history correlates well with the results reported in literatures. Stress distributions across the thickness of the elastic non-damaged laminate show a probable distribution of delamination. The simulated result for delamination is coincided with the observation of experiments. Stress distributions for the damaged laminates show that the damage releases strain energy and lessens stress concentration. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.