Numerical methodology to analyze the ice impact threat: Application to composite structures

Abstract

Impacts on composites produce interlaminar failure (delamination) which is difficult to detect in common maintenance tasks, and affects the structural integrity. Therefore it is critical, for safety, to improve prediction tools in order to perform tolerant damage designs. The numerical modelling of impacts of deformable objects (such as ice) on composite panels is still a challenge. Not only the modelling of the laminate should be appropriate to reproduce its behaviour and failures, but the modelling of the deformable projectile should be capable to induce the corresponding response and damages. In this work a two-step numerical methodology is proposed for the study of ice impact. First, the deformable impactor is analysed, studying the impact process on a rigid target (a steel plate attached to a load cell). Once the deformable projectile behaviour is fully captured, the ice impact on a deformable target (a carbon/epoxy laminate) is studied. The composite material model takes into account intralaminar and interlaminar failure in order to reproduce the laminate behaviour. Different ice sphere diameters (30, 40 and 50mm) and impact velocities (50 − 250 m/s) are considered in this study. All the results from the numerical simulations have been compared with the experimental results.

Analytical Solutions to Predict Impact Behaviour of Stringer Stiffened Composite Aircraft Panels

“…Besides, for specially orthotropic laminates (i.e., A 16 = A 26 = D 16 = D 26 = B ij = 0 ), and by neglecting in-plane accelerations and rotary inertias, these plate equations are reduced to Eqs. (4,5).…”

“…Given Eqs. (4,5,6,7), the motion of the plate when a known load q is applied can be obtained using a double expansion in Fourier series of w , ψ x and ψ y , and the load q as well as per Eqs. (9,10).…”

“…Pernas-Sánchez et al [5] researched ice impact modelling on steel and composite panels. Numerical methodology and experimental validation were first developed to understand soft body impactors' behaviour, focusing on the projectile model capability to transfer the dynamic load's effects to rigid steel panels.…”

Statistical modeling of random hail impact

“…However, all these efforts mainly focus on predicting the impact response of a single hailstone, e.g. [7,8], while the impact response of multiple hailstones is rarely reported due to the randomness in natural hail impact.…”

Research of the Energy Losses of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules after Hail Simulation Using a Newly-Created Testbed

“…Carrying out the theoretical research of the problem is important in order to supplement experimental research. The problem of impact and contact mechanics in the dynamics has been extensively studied from both the experimental and theoretical perspectives, but most studies addressed the problems concerning the aerospace and defense fields [26,27]. In the aforementioned research, composite cellular plates [28,29] dominated as the main subject.…”