| Abstract: | An experimental investigation was conducted to identify the failure mechanism and to understand damage propagation in compression-loaded composite structures. The tests were conducted on several laminates of different ply orientation with thicknesses that ranged from 0.56 to 0.79 cm. The panels were damaged by 1.27-cm-diameter aluminum spheres propelled normal to the specimen surface at velocities ranging from 30 m/s to 140 m/s. Results indicate that there is significant internal laminate damage due to low-velocity impact with no surface damage. The internal damage consists of delamination and intraply cracking. Three damage propagation modes were identified as causing specimen failure; delamination, axial load-lateral deformation coupling, and local shear failure. |
