Impact resistance and damage characteristics of composite laminates

This paper presents an investigation into the damage characteristics and failure strengths of composite laminates at low velocity impact tests. Three E-glass fabrics, non-crimp fabric, woven fabric, and nonwoven mat, were selected as reinforcements for the composite laminates. Impact tests were conducted using a guided drop-weight test rig in ascending energy to 24 J/layer nominal impact energy. Metallographic microscopy was used to observe the...