Validation of low velocity impact modelling on different stacking sequences of CFRP laminates and influence of fibre failure

This paper presents a validation of low-velocity impact Finite Element (FE) modelling. Based on switching ply location of reference layup [0(2),45(2),90(2),-45(2)](s) T700GC/M21 laminated plates from Bouvet et al. (2012) [1], twelve possible layups under a constraint of double-ply, mirror-symmetric, balanced, and quasi- isotropic are allowed. However only seven layups are chosen for the study and one of them reveals the importance of longitudinal fibre compressive failure during impact events. Therefore, the second aspect of this work is the introduction of a fibre compressive failure law associated with fracture damage development. This makes it possible to improve the simulation for all seven different layups. Good correspondence is achieved between simulation and experiment for aspects such as delamination areas/shapes and force displacement responses. The influence of the addition of fibre compressive failure according to fracture toughness in mode I is discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.