Low-velocity impact-induced damage of continuous fiber-reinforced composite laminates. Part II. Verification and numerical investigation

In Part I of the current work [this issue], we have developed a numerical model for simulating the process of low-velocity impact damage in composite laminates using the finite element method (FEM). This FEM model based on the Mindlin plate element can describe various impact-induced damages and their mutual effects. Some new and effective techniques have also been put forward in that paper, which can significantly increase the computational efficiency. In the current paper, i.e. Part II of the two-part series on the study of impact of composites, we focus on the following two aspects: (a) verification of our numerical model through the comparison with other researchers' results; (b) investigation of the impact-induced damage in the laminated plates using the present numerical model. For the first aspect, some previous experimental data have been adopted for comparison to validate the present numerical model. For the second, we have mainly studied the effects on the impact damage in detail in such aspects as the size of target plate, the boundary conditions of target plate, impact velocity, impactor mass, etc. From these computations, the understanding of the low-velocity impact damage in laminates can be improved.