Finite Element Modeling of Composite Materials Subjected to the Low Velocity Impact Damage

In this paper, the low velocity impact behavior of a composite material was investigated using the LS DYNA a finite element package. In order to investigate the damage produced by different impactors, three shape impactors were chosen (ball, cylinder, and truncated cone). The impactors impact the plate with a velocity of 6m/s. The composite was a carbon fiber/epoxy of sequence stacking[45/0/-45/90]s. All the impactors dropped the plate at the center. In order to study the effect of the inclination of the laminated plate, three different inclination angles were chosen (30, 45 and 60°). The loads, the impact energy, the displacements and the Von Mises stresses were computed and represented in a different graphs en function of the time of the impact. The truncated cone and a cylinder provide a higher impact forces and a displacements (great damaged zone). In the case of an angle of 30°, the ball produced a higher displacement and impact energy.