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ANALYSIS OF IMPACT INDUCED DAMAGE IN GLASS FIBER LAMINATED

COMPOSITE (GFRP) PLATE

Conference Paper · March 2018

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Md Muslim Ansari Anupam Chakrabarti

Indian Institute of Science Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
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 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018

ANALYSIS OF IMPACT INDUCED DAMAGE IN GLASS

FIBER LAMINATED COMPOSITE PLATE
Md. Muslim Ansari1 and Anupam Chakrabarti2
1
Assistant Professor, Civil Engg., BML Munjal University Gurgaon, India, muslimdecivil@gmail.com
2
Associate Professor, Deptt. of Civil Engg., IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, India, achakfce@iitr.ac.in

ABSTRACT

This paper presents experimental as well as FE analysis of impact behaviour of laminated

Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester (GFRP) composite plate. Experimental impact tests is
performed by pneumatic gun which propels 52 grams projectile at incidence velocity up to
300 m/s. Numerical results obtained from the present FE model in terms of residual velocity
and damage pattern in composite plate are compared with the results from experimental
impact tests which have good agreement. Delamination is the dominant phase of damage in
laminated composite plate due to impact which is caused by matrix failure in tension. Many
new results are presented here which helps the researches in this field.

Key Words: GFRP; Perforation; Delamination; Ballistic impact

INTRODUCTION

There is steady demand of FRP composite in aircraft, automobiles, marine structures,

defense, military, sports and many structural applications where high stiffness and light
weight are the major concerns (Namala et al. 2014). Fiber reinforced composite beam is used
as energy absorber in vehicle (Yang 2013) and also for fluid transfer laying on the ground or
beneath (Perillo et al. 2015).
In spite of that, these materials are susceptible to damage under impact because of
their low ductility and orthotropic nature. Therefore, the need of impact analysis of FRP
materials attracts the researchers in this field. Some relevant researches regarding impact
behaviour of FRP composite are discussed here in brief. Dynamic behaviour of composite
plate under low velocity was performed by Cantwell and Morton (1989; 1990) and Bilingardi
and Vadori (2003). Wen (2000; 2001) studied the behaviour of FRP composite plate under
high velocity impact with different nose shapes of projectile with analytical model. Another
analytical model proposed by Wu et al. (1995) that was based on shear failure criteria. An
analytical model considering simply supported boundary condition in composite plate was
proposed by Mishra and Naik (2010) to study the impact behaviour. Ballistic impact analysis
on composite plate to study the penetration behaviour was conducted by Sabet (2011) and
Sevkat (2012). Recently, the ballistic impact behaviour of Kevlar/epoxy composite was
studied by Ansari et al. (2017).
In this present work, impact induced damage, penetration process of projectile inside
the laminated GFRP composite plate is studied considering 52 grams blunt nosed projectile
of diameter 19 mm. Material characterization of GRRP is carried out and implemented in the
present FE model.
 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018
MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the damage pattern and modes of damages in laminated composite plate, material
characterization of GFRP is performed and implemented in the present FE model developed
in AUTODYN hydro code. Specimen dimensions, manufacturing and testing procedure are
followed according to ASTM D3039/D3039M and AUTODYN manual. In the coordinate
axis system, direction-11 is taken along z-direction or through the thickness direction of
composite plate, direction-22 and 33 are along x and y directions or in plane axis of plate,
direction convention are same as taken in AUTODYN hydro code coordinate system
convention. Material properties of GFRP composite as calculated from tensile test are
described in author’s resent work (Ansari and Chakrabarti 2017).

NUMERICAL MODELING

Three dimensional numerical models of composite plate of size 140 × 140 × 3.12 mm 3 and
blunt nosed projectile (steel 4340) of diameter 19 mm and mass 52 gm. are made in
AUTODYN hydro code (Fig. 1). Hexahedron brick element is assigned to the numerical
models by using Lagrangian approach. Interaction between plate and projectile is defined by
gap interaction method with gap size of 0.05 mm and frictionless contact. A mesh division of
70 × 70 is used to the quarter plate after mesh convergence study discussed in author’s
previous work (Ansari et al. 2017).

Clamped
boundary
condition

Fine mesh

Fig. 1. Target plate with blunt projectile

RESULTS AND DISSCUSSIONS

Experimental impact tests on laminated GFRP composite plate with blunt projectile is
performed under fully clamped condition. GFRP laminated composite plate was made with 5
plies of woven GFRP and polyester resin by hand layup of size 140 × 140 × 3.12 mm 3.
Nominal pressure by soft roller was applied after each glued ply to remove the entrapped air.
Numerical results in terms of residual velocity and damage pattern obtained from the present
FE model are compared with the results from experimental impact tests.
 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018
500
450

Residual velocity (m/s)

400
350
300
250
200 Experimental
150
FE model
100
50
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Incidence velocity (m/s)
Fig. 2. Variation of residual velocity with
incidence velocity

It is observed that the residual velocity obtained from the present FE model is more than the
results from experimental impact tests as shown in Fig. 2. This difference may be due to the
frictional loss of energy of projectile however frictionless contact is defined between
projectile and plate in the present FE model because of unknown friction coefficient.
Evolution of damages in laminated composite plate due to impact at different time
frame is presented in Fig. 3(a). It is observed that most of the damage occurs due to
delamination that is caused by failure of matrix in tension or failure along 11- direction as
shown in material status bar from the present FE model. Due to high incidence velocity, some
part of composite plate flown off with projectile (called Plug).
Fig. 3 (b) shows the acceleration-time histories of projectile at two different incidence
velocities during penetration in laminate. At lower incidence velocity (Vi=40 m/s),
fluctuation in acceleration (retardation) of projectile is observed, it means that the penetration
resistance offered by laminated composite is more at lower incidence velocity.

0.2
t=0.015 ms Time (ms)
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
-0.2
Acceleration (x 10³ m/s²)

Delamination t=0.04 ms -0.4

Vi=40 m/s
Vi=100 m/s
-0.6

Plugs erosion -0.8

t=0.068 ms
-1

Fig. 3. (a) Progressive damage evolution in composite plate at Vi= 274.5 m/s; (b)
Acceleration-time histories of projectile
 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018

(b)
(a)
Delamination

Fibre breakage

Fig. 4. Damage pattern on the back face of composite plate; (a) Experimental, (b)
FE model

Damage pattern in composite plate due to impact by blunt projectile at incidence

velocity of 274.5 m/s from both experimental test and the present FE model is presented in
Fig. 4. It is observed that the damage area in the composite plate from experimental impact
test is having good convergence with the result from the present FE model. Whole composite
plate is observed to be failed and the cause of this failure is delamination that occurs due to
matrix failure. Some fiber breakage occurs just below the projectile. Some part of
delamination is also caused by in plane shear failure (failed 23) as observed from the
damaged composite plate and material status bar obtained from the present FE model.
Different types of stresses which arise due to pressure wave in composite plate under
impact are also studied. Variations of in plane stress σxx and in plane shear stress σxy on the
front face and along the line from impact point to the boundary of composite plate are studied
at different time frames as shown in Figs. 5(a-b). It is observed that the nature of stress along
the fiber direction (σxx) at the impact point changes from compressive (at t=0.015 ms) to
tensile (at t=0.041 ms). At each time frame, variation in stress is like wave that travels from
impact point to the boundary. Arial concentration of in plane shear stress (σxy) along with
their magnitude is less as compared to in plane longitudinal stress (σxx) as shown in Fig. 5(b).
Inter laminar shear stress (σxz) and stress through thickness direction (σzz) is also studied
along the line from center to the boundary which is at mid thickness of composite plate.
These two stresses play great role in the failure of matrix that causes delamination of
laminated composite plate. Variation of stress along thickness direction (σzz) is limited within
the radius of 10 mm near impact point as shown in Fig. 5(c). however, the variation of inter
laminar shear stress (σxz) with more fluctuation are going up to 30 mm and thereafter, the
influence diminish up to boundary as shown in Fig. 5(d).
 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018

400 15
(a) t=0.015 ms (b)
300 t=0.027 ms t=0.015 ms
10
t=0.041 ms t=0.027 ms
200
t=0.041 ms
100 5
σxx (MPa)

σ xy (MPa)
0 0
-10 10 30 50 70 -10 10 30 50 70
-100
-5
-200

-300 -10
-400 Distance (mm) Distance (mm)
-15
350 200
300 (d)
(c) 150
t=0.015 ms
250
t=0.015 ms t=0.027 ms
200 100
t=0.027 ms t=0.041 ms
150 σxz (MPa)
t=0.041 ms 50
σzz (MPa)

100
50 0
0 -10 10 30 50 70
-50
-10
-50 10 30 50 70
-100 -100
-150 -150 Distance (mm)
Distance (mm)
-200
Fig. 5. variation of stresses from impact point to edge; (a) σxx, top surface, (b) σxy, top
surface, (c) σzz, at mid depth, (d) σxz, at mid depth

CONCLUSIONS

Experimental impact tests along with the numerical simulation with the present FE model of
GFRP laminated composite plate in order to study the ballistic impact behaviour of
composite plate are performed in this paper. Damage in laminated composite plate occurs
mainly due to matrix failure and causes delamination. Some part of delamination also occurs
due to in plane shear failure. Penetration resistance offered by composite plate is more at
lower incidence velocity than the higher one and therefore retardation of projectile fluctuates
rapidly at lower incidence velocity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The work presented in this paper is the work done by first author with collaboration and
guidance of second author at IIT Roorkee.

REFERENCES

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 International Conference on
Advances in Construction Materials and Structures (ACMS-2018)
IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, March 7-8, 2018
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