Effect of Impact Energy Divisions for Repeated Low-Velocity Impacts by Varied Masses on GLARE

The present paper investigates the dynamic responses and associated damage of GLARE 5–2/1 plates subjected to successive repeated low-velocity impacts (LVIs) by spherical impactors having varied masses. For low-energy LVIs characterized by surface dents on the outer aluminium layer, the progression of damage of the internal plies is evaluated by incorporating a continuum damage model based on Hashin’s criteria considering the in situ 3D stress state. For the present analysis, a 3D finite element code is implemented to obtain the dynamic responses of the target GLARE plate by incorporating the Newmark-β method and Hertzian contact law, considering the effect of local indentation on the contact stiffness. Results show that the impactor mass, the impact energy divisions and their order of occurrence significantly influence the indentation at the impact site, thereby affecting the dynamic responses and the damage sustained by the GLARE plates. Results also show that the indentation post the first impact leads to an increase in the local stiffness at the impact site of GLARE, though the same does not indicate the absence of internal damage.