Modelling and Analysis of Material Behaviour under Normal and Oblique Low Velocity Impact

The present article deals with analysis of various engineering materials (rubber, steel, aluminum and glass epoxy) under low velocity gravity impact loading normal to the plate as well as at an oblique angle of 20 degrees. Impact damage remains a major concern for structural components; the impact of objects can create internal damage that can significantly reduce their structural strength, because of its complex nature. The investigation of low velocity impact remains an area of interest and has received much attention. Very few research work have been done on the oblique impact behaviour of composites, where most of them concentrates on high-velocity impact conditions. The study on low-velocity oblique impact of composites are scare. Comparison of the above said materials is reported considering various parameters such as total energy, contact force, deformation, von Mises stress and strain and specific energy absorbed. Specific energy absorbed by each material considered are compared both under normal impact and oblique impact and the results confirmed that rubber absorbs 11.72 times more energy than structural steel, 3.24 times more energy than aluminium and 1.8 times more energy than glass epoxy, when subjected to normal impact. In case of oblique impact at 20 degrees rubber absorbs 47.6 times more energy than structural steel, 14 times more energy than aluminium and 8.6 times more energy than glass epoxy. This makes rubber as an ideal polymer for dynamic structural applications subjected to low velocity impact under oblique condition. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.