Impact Response and Damage Characteristics of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Laminates Under Low Velocity Impact Loading

CARALL hybrid material has been extensively used in the aircraft structure due to their competitive impact strength. Low velocity impact test is utilized to evaluate the impact and damage properties for such material. It is also employed to observe complex damage mechanisms. A numerical modelling is an alternative way for impact assessment. This paper investigates the impact and damage properties under low velocity impact using numerical modeling and experimental work. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model was devolved and validated with two studies from the literature. This model was meshed with solid elements. It was subjected to 2.4 m/s impact velocity and to 10 J impact energy. Absorbed energy, penetration, impact load and damage morphology were obtained. The impact energy was efficiently absorbed by the material. Both aluminum alloy layers underwent plastic deformation whereas the fiber layer failed. A macroscopic cross-sectional morphology was presented using the FE model. An agreement between the numerical and the experiment results were achieved and discussed.