Experimental and numerical studies on influence of impact damage and simple bolt repair on compressive failure of composite laminates. (1st November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Dongfeng; Hu, Haixiao; Wang, Yao; Li, Shuxin
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 275(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-01
• Subjects: Low-velocity impact damage -- Compression after impact -- Bolt repair -- Delamination -- Local buckling; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114491
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: Combined experimental and numerical investigations on the influence of impact damage and effectiveness of a proposed simple bolt repair on the compressive failure of composite laminates are presented in this paper. Impact tests were conducted by low velocity drop-weight impact with three levels of impact energy, and then compressive tests of composite laminate specimen with impact damages were carried out and compared with intact specimen and damaged specimen with simple bolt repair. The experimental results indicated a significant reduction of the compressive strength for specimens with impact damage and the reduction is proportional to impact energy. It was demonstrated that the compressive strength could be partially reinstated with the proposed simple in-service bolt repair method. Preliminary numerical simulations of the compressive after impact (CAI) tests without and with the simple bolt repair were carried out to understand the failure mechanisms and effectiveness of the bolt repair. Good agreement of simulation results with the experimental results validated that the numerical analysis approach could provide useful tool for further design and optimization of the in-service repairs with less expensive experimental tests.