Low-velocity Impact Damage and Compression Failure Behavior of Epoxy Composites

WANG Ling; LI Qian; HU Tao; LI Yong; SHE Zuxin; REN Hongyu

doi:10.7643/ issn.1672-9242.2025.11.018

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (11) : 169-177. DOI: 10.7643/ issn.1672-9242.2025.11.018

Environmental Test and Observation

Low-velocity Impact Damage and Compression Failure Behavior of Epoxy Composites

WANG Ling, LI Qian, HU Tao, LI Yong, SHE Zuxin, REN Hongyu

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Abstract

The work aims to study the impact damage characteristics of WP3011/9A16/40% composite laminates under different low-velocity impact energy levels and their effects on post-impact compressive performance. Low-velocity impact tests and compression-after-impact (CAI) tests were conducted on the composite at varying impact energy levels. Microscopy, ultrasonic C-scan, digital image correlation (DIC), and mechanical testing equipment were employed to observe surface and internal damage, compressive strain evolution, residual compressive strength, and fracture morphology. A comparative analysis was performed on the impact damage characteristics, residual compressive strength variation, and compressive failure modes of the composite laminates. The extent of surface and internal damage in WP3011/9A16/40% composite laminates increased with the increase of the impact energy level. When the impact energy exceeded 4.5 J/mm, the dent depth increased significantly, while the growth rate of the internal damage area (measured via ultrasonic C-scan) slowed. The residual compressive strength decreased with the increase of the impact energy. At impact energy levels of 6.7 J/mm and above, localized micro-buckling failure characteristics appeared in the impacted region. The internal damage in WP3011/9A16/40% composites primarily consists of delamination and matrix cracking. The internal damage area initially increases with impact energy but then gets stable. During compression, damage propagation originates from the impact site and extends perpendicular to the compressive load. The primary failure mode in the impacted region is delamination, with micro-buckling becoming more pronounced at higher impact energy levels. In contrast, shear-induced delamination dominates in regions away from the impact site.

Key words

composite / low-velocity impact / damage area / dent depth / damage mode / compress strength / failure

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WANG Ling, LI Qian, HU Tao, LI Yong, SHE Zuxin, REN Hongyu. Low-velocity Impact Damage and Compression Failure Behavior of Epoxy Composites[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2025, 22(11): 169-177 https://doi.org/10.7643/ issn.1672-9242.2025.11.018

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