Numerical study of low-velocity impact on GLARE laminates based on elasticity concepts

Fiber metal laminates (FMLs) are vulnerable to low-velocity impacts that can degrade their mechanical properties and performance. The current study aimed to model the low-velocity impacts at different energy levels on GLARE laminates through numerical simulation based on elasticity concepts. It assessed the damage patterns caused by the delamination and matrix cracking in each composite layer and the area of metal plasticity. GLARE laminates, with the [Al/۰/۹۰/۰/۹۰]s layup, were modeled. The Johnson-Cook criterion was employed in the numerical simulation to characterize Aluminum's stress-strain relationship in both elastic and plastic regions. Furthermore, the three-dimensional modified Hashin criteria were utilized to model the failure initiation in composite layers subjected to impact conditions. The progressive damage was simulated through an elasticity-based approach by degrading the stiffness matrix. The modified Hashin criteria and progressive damage were coded into the user-material subroutine VUMAT within the ABAQUS/Explicit finite element package. The results show that if a crack does not form in the metal, an increase in impact energy leads to a larger area of damage in composite layers. The results also showed that the area of damage caused by the delamination was more significant than that caused by the matrix cracking under a constant impact energy. This study proposed a method for assessing and classifying the damage pattern induced in GLARE laminates by low-velocity impacts, employing numerical solutions based on elasticity concepts.

کلیدواژه ها:

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) ، Progressive damage ، Low-velocity impact ، Numerical simulation