Low-velocity impact behavior and residual tensile strength of CFRP laminates

Abstract This paper experimentally studies the low-velocity impact behaviors and residual tensile strength of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) laminates. Firstly, the effects of four factors, i.e. impact angle, impactor diameter, the proportion of ply orientation and stacking sequence, on the impact responses of laminates are studied. The damage characteristics are evaluated by dent depth, delamination damage projection area (DDPA) and energy dissipation. Secondly, the tensile responses of the laminates after impact are investigated based on residual tensile strength (RTS). Finally, the correlations between the four damage evaluation criteria, i.e. dent depth, DDPA, energy dissipation and RTS, are sorted out. Experimental results demonstrate that the four factors have significant effects on the impact behaviors of laminates in different ways. The DDPA is negatively correlated with the dent depth of laminates, and the dent depth can be treated as an important reference for the RTS. Besides, a fracture phenomenon, i.e. a clear band of fiber fracture around the impact area after impact, has been observed and discussed.