Abstract. The oblique contact-impact characteristic of the composite structural bar
composed of Babbitt alloy and low-carbon steel (ZChSbSb11-6 ∕ AISI 1020)
with a solid flat surface (AISI 1045) was studied theoretically and
experimentally. The dynamic equation of the composite structural bar with
vibration response during the contact-impact was established using the
momentum theorem and assumed mode method, and the instantaneous contact
forces during different impact phases were analyzed based on modified
Jackson–Green model. Four sets of experiments (i.e. different proportion of
Babbitt, ξ={1/8,1/2,3/4,7/8}) for the
initial angle, θ=45∘, and different initial velocities
were performed; and, the rebound linear and angular velocity of the contact
point of composite structural bar after impact was calculated and compared
with experimental results. Besides, the coefficient of restitution, the
relation of contact force and contact deflection, and the permanent
deformation were also compared for the composite structural bars with
different proportions in combination, ξ. Three critical angles are
found to determine whether the composite bar slides or not, but are
prominently different for the composite bars with different ξ. In
comparing with the experimental results, the numerical solutions of rebound
linear and angular velocity had yield encourage results and, all relative
errors were small, indicating that the simulations are in good agreement
with the experimental results. Also, the oblique contact-impact behavior
involving the coefficient of restitution, the relation of contact force and
contact deflection, and the permanent deformation was explained in detail.
It can be concluded that as the proportion of Babbitt ξ increases, the
composite structural bar presents a characteristic of ease of deflection.
And the contact-impact behavior of structural entity is closely related to
the inherent properties of the elasto-plastic material, especially for the
weak material of composite structures. The more easily the impacting object
is deformed, the small the contact force during the contact-impact, which
also indicates the yield strength of weak material is a very significant
parameter in the event of collision. Such work could give conducive insights to contact-impact problems of the key parts or structures composed of composite materials in mechanical system.