Damage Tolerance to Low Velocity Impact of Laminated Composites

Abstract : A strategy is developed for predicting easily the threshold energy for delamination caused by impact, whatever the nature of the laminated structure. The actual delamination and fibre damage is also predicted and the consequent compression-after- impact strengths. The latter strategies may be approximate but current research is pointing the way to more accurate solutions based on finding energy-release-rates around the delamination front.