Dynamic analysis of delaminated composite conical shells under low velocity impact

Abstract

The dynamic response of graphite-epoxy delaminated cross-ply composite shallow conical shells subjected to low velocity normal impact is investigated using the finite element method. An eight-noded isoparametric plate bending element is employed in the formulation incorporating rotary inertia and effects of transverse shear deformation based on Mindlin’s theory. In the time integration, Newmark constant average acceleration method in conjunction with an efficient iteration scheme is used. The modified Hertzian contact law which accounts for permanent indentation is utilized to compute the time-dependent equations. Numerical results present the histories of contact force, deflection/thickness and impactor’s displacement for centrally impacted delaminated cross-ply composite cantilevered conical shells.