| Experimental and theoretical studies were performed to characterize and model the processes of damage evolution and resulting penetration failure of graphite fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composite laminates ("structural grade") under ballistic impact. In contrast to the local yielding demonstrated by ductile isotropic materials, the penetration failure of fiber-reinforced composites produced extensive fragmentation of material with multiple modes of damage propagation such as "delamination," "interfiber matrix splitting," "transverse fiber cuts," and "through-the-thickness plugging." Due to the formation of damage zones in three-dimensional scale, the increase in target thickness raised the amount of kinetic energy absorption for full penetration in a "non-linear" fashion in fiber composites unlike the linear correlation for isotropic material such as polycarbonate and aluminum.; Interfiber matrix splitting and delamination were found to be the first sign of structural deterioration occurring far below V50 and precede transverse cutting of fibers and plugging. The development of interfiber splitting into delamination of composites is explained by relying on the contact mechanics of a spherical indentor. Matrix splits on adjacent plies formed one pair of geometrical "wedges" at the ply interface, resulting in a delamination zone connected through an "isthmus." Contained in this free ply region, stress concentration readily led to transverse cutting (approximately at 85 percent of the V50) of plies when longitudinal stress of the reinforcing fibers reaches a critical level for fracture.; The observed distribution of the damage leading to transverse fiber cuts was modeled by idealizing a circular target panel of staircase laminate into three zones with different values of bending stiffness due to the progression of damage. In "three-zone" model, the energy absorbed by the panel were represented in three forms of potential energy; surface free energy due to delamination, fracture energy of fibers on the penetration path of projectile, and elastic energy for deflection of three zone circular plate. The penetration process after transverse fiber cuts during the final stage of penetration could be predicted by adapting a theoretical model formulated by Mayer where a Lagrangian Dynamics formulation was used to derive the transient deflection of a circular laminate beneath an impacting projectile. |
