Delaminations caused by low-energy impacts in air structures of polymer laminates

Aim of project
The aim of the project is to research the mechanisms of buckling delamination propagation originating from low energy impacts (18–20 J). Fabric-reinforced polymeric laminates and auxetic polymeric laminates are of interest.
Scope of research:

Definition and investigation of mechanisms contributing to energy dissipation in propagation of buckling delamination in laminates reinforced with fabrics;

Investigation of resistance against delamination of laminates reinforced with fabrics and auxetic laminates;

Experimental investigation of low energy impact effects for the purpose of numerical modelling;

Design of a numerical model representing buckling delaminations resulting from low energy impacts and determination of GI, GII and GIII distributions along the delamination fronts for selected delaminations.

Expected results
The following questions are to be answered:

Does the topology of reinforcement generate extra mechanisms of energy dissipation in a delamination propagation process and if so, what is the mechanism?

Is the observed increase in delamination resistance due to the auxetic properties of laminates or to their reinforcement topology?
What are the eff ects of the reinforcement arrangement and the sequence of layers of different reinforcement arrangements on the topology of delaminations and their size (including auxetic laminates)?

Development of a procedure for numerical modelling of delaminations resulting from low energy impacts and numerical models of practical significance for investigating the stability of delamination growth and degradation of mechanical properties of the laminate in the vicinity of the delaminations