Damage and failure of laminated carbon-fiber-reinforced composite under low-velocity impact

In this paper, experimental and numerical studies are conducted to study the damage and failure behavior of a laminated T700/BA9912 composite under low-velocity impact. The three-dimensional (3D) Hashin damage criterion and the cohesive zone model are used in the finite-element analysis, and the numerical simulation reveals the delamination, matrix damage, and fiber breakage process in the material. To show the capacity and fidelity of the numerical model, a drop-weight test and a nondamage inspection (NDI) are performed, and the model predictions are compared with the test results. The numerical model is able to predict the load versus impact time responses of the specimens. The predicted size and shape of the delamination area show excellent agreement with the NDI result, and the predicted through-thickness matrix failure directly below the impactor and the fiber breakage in the bottom layers of the laminates are in good agreement with the experimental observations.