Transverse impact damage and energy absorption of three-dimensional orthogonal hybrid woven composite: Experimental and FEM simulation

This article presents transverse impact behavior of 3D orthogonal Twaron (R)/glass hybrid woven composite both in experimental and FEM simulation. The transverse impact behaviors of the 3D woven composite along warp and weft direction were tested with a modified Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus. The load-displacement curves and damage morphology were obtained to analyze the energy absorptions and impact damage mechanisms of the composite under different impact velocities. A unit-cell model based on the microstructure of the 3D woven composite was established to determine the composite deformation and damage when the composite impacted by a hemisphere-ended steel rod. Incorporated with the unit-cell model, a elasto-plastic constitute equation of the 3D woven composite and the Critical Damage Area (CDA) failure theory of composites have been implemented as a User Defined Material law (VUMAT) for ABAQUS/Explicit. The FEM calculated load-displacement curves, impact deformations and damages are compared with those in experiment. The good agreements of the comparisons prove the validity of the unit-cell model and user-defined subroutine VUMAT. This manifests the applicability of the VUMAT to the design of the 3D orthogonal woven composite structures under other impulsive loading conditions.