Modelling the effect of projectile hardness on the impact response of a woven carbon-fibre reinforced thermoplastic-matrix composite

In the present paper numerical modelling results are described to predict the effects of the hardness of a projectile impacting a woven carbon-fibre reinforced thermoplastic-matrix composite. The projectiles are prepared from either relatively soft gelatine or hard high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials, of the same mass, and are fired from a gas-gun at about 60 m s−1 to impact a woven carbon-fibre reinforced poly(ether-ether ketone) (woven...