• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.236-244
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• 2017

In this study, the high-velocity impact penetration behavior of $[45/0/-45/90]_{ns}$ carbon/epoxy composite laminates was studied. The considered configuration includes a spherical steel ball impacting clamped circular laminates with various thicknesses and diameters. First, the impact experiment was performed to measure residual velocity and extent of damage. Next, the impact experiment was numerically simulated through finite element analysis using LS-dyna. Three-dimensional solid elements were used to model each ply of the laminates discretely, and progressive material failure was modeled using MAT162. The result indicated that the finite element simulation yielded residual velocities and damage modes well-matched with those obtained from the experiment. It was found that fiber damage was localized near the impactor penetration path, while matrix and delamination damage were much more spread out with the damage mode showing a dependency on the orientation angles and ply locations. The ballistic-limit velocities obtained by fitting the residual velocities increased almost linearly versus the laminate diameter, but the amount of increase was small, showing that the impact energy was absorbed mostly by the localized impact damage and that the influence of the laminate size was not significant at high-velocity impact.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.190-205
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• 2015

In this paper, the impact damage behavior of USN-150B carbon/epoxy composite laminates subjected to high velocity impact was studied experimentally and numerically. Square composite laminates stacked with $[45/0/-45/90]_{ns}$ quasi-symmetric and $[0/90]_{ns}$ cross-ply stacking sequences and a conical shape projectile with steel core, copper skin and lead filler were considered. First high-velocity impact tests were conducted under various test conditions. Three tests were repeated under the same impact condition. Projectile velocity before and after penetration were measured by infrared ray sensors and magnetic sensors. High-speed camera shots and C-Scan images were also taken to measure the projectile velocities and to obtain the information on the damage shapes of the projectile and the laminate specimens. Next, the numerical simulation was performed using explicit finite element code LS-DYNA. Both the projectile and the composite laminate were modeled using three-dimensional solid elements. Residual velocity history of the impact projectile and the failure shape and extents of the laminates were predicted and systematically examined. The results of this study can provide the understanding on the penetration process of laminated composites during ballistic impact, as well as the damage amount and modes. These were thought to be utilized to predict the decrease of mechanical properties and also to help mitigate impact damage of composite structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.933-961
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• 2015

Damage by high-speed impact fracture is a dominant mode of failure in several applications of concrete structures. Numerical modelling can play a crucial role in understanding and predicting complex fracture processes. The commonly used mesh-based Finite Element Method has difficulties in accurately modelling the high deformation and disintegration associated with fracture, as this often distorts the mesh. Even with careful re-meshing FEM often fails to handle extreme deformations and results in poor accuracy. Moreover, simulating the mechanism of fragmentation requires detachment of elements along their boundaries, and this needs a fine mesh to allow the natural propagation of damage/cracks. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is an alternative particle based (mesh-less) Lagrangian method that is particularly suitable for analysing fracture because of its capability to model large deformation and to track free surfaces generated due to fracturing. Here we demonstrate the capabilities of SPH for predicting brittle fracture by studying a slender concrete structure (column) under the impact of a high-speed projectile. To explore the effect of the projectile material behaviour on the fracture process, the projectile is assumed to be either perfectly-elastic or elastoplastic in two separate cases. The transient stress field and the resulting evolution of damage under impact are investigated. The nature of the collision and the constitutive behaviour are found to considerably affect the fracture process for the structure including the crack propagation rates, and the size and motion of the fragments. The progress of fracture is tracked by measuring the average damage level of the structure and the extent of energy dissipation, which depend strongly on the type of collision. The effect of fracture property (failure strain) of the concrete due to its various compositions is found to have a profound effect on the damage and fragmentation pattern of the structure.