High-fidelity prediction and temperature-rise mechanism for low-velocity impact of triaxially braided composites

An elastoplastic mechanical-thermal constitutive model was integrated into the development of a mesoscale finite element model. This model aimed to analyze the temperature rise phenomenon and failure behavior of composites under impact loading conditions. Triaxially braided carbon/epoxy composite specimens were subjected to low-velocity impact using a drop weight tester, and the temperature variations within the specimens were monitored using an infrared camera. The numerical predictions successfully reproduced the observed failure modes and accurately captured the temperature distribution. A numerical study was performed to explore the main factors of temperature rise, indicating that plastic work of pure matrix and fracture transformed energy of fiber tow are the primary sources of temperature rise. The transverse specimen was found to exhibit superior energy absorption capacity under high-energy impacts.