Simulation of impact response of multi-layered panels composed of bonded and unbonded plies

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation into low velocity impact response of different configurations of resin bonded and unbonded layups of glass fabric composites for armour application. A numerical simulation was developed using the finite element code LS-Dyna to model the impact response at low velocities. The numerical results have been validated by comparison with results of impact tests on epoxy-bonded glass fibre-reinforced plastic plates with all edges fixed. Further impact testing of composite panels with various lay-up configurations have been performed using two different types of support: all edges fixed and with the panels mounted on clay foundation with all edges free. Experimental results show that a combination of unbonded flexible and adhesively bonded rigid composite lay-ups, which has a lower weight than fully bonded panels, yields comparable levels of energy absorption.

Keywords:

• Composite insert
• flexible body armour
• unbonded composite laminates
• impact loading

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman graduated from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh, in Mechanical Engineering in 2006. He became a lecturer at the same University in the School of Mechanical Engineering in 2007. Currently he is doing PhD at University of New South Wales at Australian Defence Force Academy in the School of Engineering and IT. The areas of his research interest include composite structures, impact testing and analysis of structures.

E V Morozov

Professor Evgeny V. Morozov graduated from Moscow Institute of Aviation Technology with an MSc Degree in Design and Manufacture of Aerospace Structures. He gained his PhD Degree in 1981 from the same university and DSc Degree in 1987 from Moscow Aviation Institute in the field of Design and Analysis of Composite Aerospace Structural Components. In 1984, he also obtained an MSc Degree from MV Lomonosov Moscow State University in Applied Mathematics. He became a Full Professor of Aerospace Composite Structures, Moscow State University of Aviation Technology in 1991. In 1995, Evgeny joined the School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Natal, South Africa as the Professor of Manufacturing Systems. There, he was one of the founders of the Centre for Composite and Smart Materials and Structures. In 2007, Evgeny joined UNSW, Canberra, Australia as the Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

K Shankar

Dr Krishna Shankar graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, in Aerospace Engineering in 1978 and completed his Masters (by Research) at IIT Chennai on Experimental Stress Analysis. He obtained a PhD at the University of Tasmania on Shell Stability 1990. After six years of postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto and NRC, Canada, he became a lecturer at the School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the School of Engineering and Information Technology, at UNSW@ADFA. Krishna’s main research discipline is structures and materials, involving theoretical analysis, numerical modelling and experimental testing.

M Tahtali

Murat Tahtali graduated in 1989 from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, then with an MSc in 1993 in the field of Structural Vibrations. He joined the UNSW@ADFA in 1994 as a PhD student, and then started teaching FEA in 1995 as part-time Associate Lecturer. He first worked on detecting hairline cracks around riveted lap joints using double exposure holography before changing his PhD topic to modelling crack propagation around riveted lap joints. He also worked as a Research Assistant on modelling residual stresses in composite materials using FEA. He was promoted to Lecturer in 2000, and started teaching Mechanisms and Vibrations courses. He became a Senior Lecturer in 2009 and is currently teaching FEA, Mechanisms and Matlab while conducting research in image reconstruction under severe atmospheric conditions, 3d tomographic imaging and occasionally supporting research in structural vibrations and composite materials through student supervision.