Experimental investigation on the impact response of composite plates with varying thickness and orientation under low velocity impact energies

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact response of the unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced laminated composite plates with varying thickness and orientation under low velocity impact energies. The effects of the following parameters for the impact response are investigated; impact energy, orientation, plate thickness and impactor mass. Impacts with varying energy levels are applied on each specimen by using drop weight impact testing machine. Additionally, impact behaviours of rebound, penetration, and perforation are examined by applying impact tests until perforation for a single specimen. The damage types after the impacts are observed by a microscope, the damaged areas are examined by ultrasonic c-scan, which in one of the non-destructive testing techniques and the deviations of dent depth with time are measured by a comparator. The buckling tests are performed on damaged and undamaged specimens and the remaining buckling strength percentages are determined.