ANALYTICAL MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF LOW-VELOCITY IMPACT RESPONSES IN UNIDIRECTIONAL CFRP COMPOSITE USING FSDT AND TDOF APPROACHES.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jm.v48.593Keywords:
CFRPs, low velocity impact, energy absorption, analytical model, structural integrity, CFRP, low velocity impact, energy absorption, analytical model, structural integrityAbstract
Metallic structures have been extensively replaced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites in many industries due to their technical advantages and design versatility. Despite these advantages, CFRP composites are sensitive to dynamic loads such as low velocity impact, which can compromise structural integrity with internal
damage. This study introduces a computationally efficient analytical model developed in MATLAB to predict impact damage in unidirectional (UD) CFRP composites, providing a faster and more cost-effective alternative to finite element simulations. The model used First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) and a Two Degrees of Freedom (TDOF) approach, incorporating a nonlinear contact force model to calculate displacements, absorbed energy and impact forces. A key novelty of this research lies in the multi-level experimental validation conducted with an Instron CEAST 9350 impact testing machine with hemispherical impactor tips at energy levels of 5.6 J, 10.3 J and 16.14 J. Results reveal that the model achieves good agreement with experimental data at lower energy levels, accurately captures the elastic behavior with a minimum error of 1%. However, the model's limitations in simulating nonlinear responses and material damage become more evident at higher energy levels, where the extent of damage has a pronounced effect on energy absorption and dissipation. This underscores the need for incorporating advanced
material models that account for damage progression and strain-rate effects to enhance accuracy and reliability. Ultimately, this work supports the development of innovative composite solutions, contributing to more efficient and cost-effective engineering practices.
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