Simulation on Low Velocity Impacted Damage of Sandwich Composite with Finite Element Analysis

A finite element tool was used to simulate the structural and damage response of honeycomb sandwich composites subjected to low-velocity impact, under different energy. Damage evolution such as composite skins failure, and collapse of honeycomb core was assessment by different damage models. And interlaminar damage was assessed by cohesive laws. The nonlinear behavior of honeycomb was simulated by a crushable foam plasticity model. Results of finite element simulation were compared with falling weight impact test on honeycomb sandwich panels consisting of carbon fiber preparation facesheets bonded to paper honeycomb structure foam. Good agreement and Acceptable error was obtained between predictions and experiments in terms of force histories, force-displacement curves and dissipated energy. The proposed model was also capable of simulating correctly nature and size of impact damage, capturing the features of delimitaztions between core and different layers.