Studies on the impact and compression-after-impact response of ‘Double-Double’ carbon-fibre reinforced composite laminates

This chapter presents comparative high fidelity computational finite element (FE) modelling of low-velocity impact (LVI) damage and compression-after-impact (CAI) strength of both ‘Legacy Quad Laminates’ (LQL) and ‘Double-Double’ DD laminates, using a validated FE modelling approach. An in-house intralaminar damage model, capturing both fibre-dominated and matrix-dominated damage, along with an available interlaminar cohesive model are used within an explicit dynamic formulation. LQL results are validated using available experimental data before modelling the corresponding DD laminates. Results show that DD laminates are effective replacements for UD or hybrid woven/UD LQL under both LVI and CAI loading conditions. It is shown that matrix and delamination damage may be reduced with DDs. Potential weight savings can be achieved with the use of DD laminates as well as simplifying manufacturing processes. In all the cases presented herein, CAI residual strength increased with the use of a DD laminate over a traditional LQL.