Simulation of low velocity impact on composite laminates with progressive failure analysis

The impact is particularly damaging in the case of composites where the fibers are elastic and brittle as well as the matrix when compared with conventional ductile metals. This paper deals with the prediction of the delamination damage induced by low velocity impact in a laminated composite performed using the progressive damage model MAT162 implemented in the transient non-linear finite element code LS-DYNA. Good agreement with the experimental result was observed, especially for shape and orientation of the delaminations.