Influence of fibre content and impactor parameters on transverse impact response of uniaxially reinforced composite plates

The response of aligned fibre-reinforced laminae to a transverse impact load, as in a drop weight impact test, is examined theoretically in terms of impact force produced and the impulse imparted to the plate. The impulse is directly proportional to the deflection under the point of impact. The analysis assumes linear elastic behaviour of the material. It is shown that the complete response is described by a single parameter, called the impact parameter (A). The coefficient of restitution, maximum impact force, and time of contact between the impactor and the plate can be easily determined in terms of λ. The variation of the energy of impact is also considered and the approximate expressions used by some authors discussed. Finally, for a glass fibre-reinforced epoxy lamina, the roles of the volume fraction of fibres and the impactor parameters such as its mass, velocity and kinetic energy, are individually ascertained and useful conclusions drawn.